paleontology, homology, and evolution

Paleontology, Homology, and Evolution

May 22, 2013

Paleontology, Homology, and Evolution

• Paleontologists use homology to understand the evolution of organisms!

Paleontology, Homology, and Evolution

• Paleontologists use homology to understand the evolution of organisms!

DERIVED CHARACTERISTICS

Derived Characteristics

• A trait that has been passed down from the ancestral organism

Derived Characteristics

• A trait that has been passed down from the ancestral organism

– Multicellular– Vertebrates– Mammals

Derived Characteristics

• Trace back to understand evolution– Good example are horses and their ancestors• Using a number of morphological traits, they can trace

back the ancestry of modern horses.

Whales

Paleontology

• It is your job now to become the paleontologists and find what is in the soil.

Paleontology

• Use the pictures of modern organisms to try and figure out what where the fossils come from!

What did your fossil organism(s) look like?

What did your fossil organism(s) look like?

What did your fossil organism(s) look like?

What did your fossil organism(s) look like?

What could you tell about the behavior or environment?

What could you tell about the behavior or environment?

• Fossils are found right here in LA at the La Brea tar pits.

• Take a look at the fossils from the tar pits-what can we tell about these organisms?

• How did they get trapped in the tar pit?

Dire WolfCanus dirus

BisonBison antiquus

Other organisms

• Camels (Camelops hesternus)

Other organisms

• Ground Sloth (Paralmylodon harlani)

Other organisms

• Mammoths (Mammuthus columbi)

Other organisms

• Smilodon (Smilodon fatalis)

Other organisms

• California dogwood (Cornus californica)

Other organisms

• White Sage (Salvia apiana)

Environment

La Brea