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UNIT IV

Chapter 10 Principles of Evolution

UNIT 4: EVOLUTION

Chapter 10: Principles of Evolution

I. Early Ideas about Evolution (10.1)

A. Early scientists proposed ideas about

evolution

1. Evolution- process of biological change

by which descendants come to differ from

their ancestors

2. Other scientists besides Darwin came

up with idea

B. Four scientists important in development of

evolution theory

1. Carolus Linnaeus (1700’s)-

developed classification system to

name living things (grouped by

similarities)

2. Georges Louis Leclerc de

Buffon (1700’s)- proposed

species shared ancestors

instead of arising separately

3. Erasamus Darwin-

Darwin’s grandfather.

Proposed that all living

things were descended

from a common ancestor

4. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck -proposed

theory that all organisms evolved

toward perfection and complexity.

a. Proposed changes

in environment caused

an organism behavior

to change, leading to

greater use or disuse

of a structure or organ

b. Organism then

passed changes on to

offspring

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C. Theories of geologic change set stage for

Darwin’s Theory

1. Age of the Earth was key issue in early

debates

a. Many thought Earth

on 6000 years old

b. Discovery of fossils

created controversy

2. James Hutton (late 1700’s)- proposed that Earth

very old. Said geologic change occurred

gradually (called gradualism)

3. Charles Lyell (1830)- published “Principles of

Geology”. Also said Earth must be very old. Said

changes in Earth occurred at constant rate over

time

a. Same changes we see happening today

b. Greatly affected Darwin’s thinking.

II. Darwin’s Observations (10.2)

A. Darwin observed differences among island

species

1. Differences between

species studied on

Galapagos Islands

2. Noticed variations well suited to animals

environment (variation- differences in physical

traits)

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3. Studied birds, tortoises and said some how adapt

to their surroundings (adaptation- a feature that

allows an organism to better survive in

environment)

B. Darwin observed fossil and geologic evidence

supporting ancient Earth

1. Discovered fossil evidence

of species changed over time

2. Suggested that modern

organisms have relationship

to fossil forms

3. Earth must be very old (supported Lyell’s theory)

4. Darwin said, like the Earth, organisms must

change gradually over time

III. Theory of Natural Selection (10.3)

A. Several key insights led to Darwin’s idea for

natural selection

1. Artificial Selection- process by which

humans changes a species by breeding it

for certain traits

a. Darwin compared what he

learned about breeding to his idea

of adaptation

b. Said that in nature, environment

creates selective pressure instead

of humans in artificial selection

2. Natural Selection- mechanism by which

environment is selective agent

a. Darwin used work of others to develop theory

b. Said adaptations arose

over many generations

(called process “decent

with modification)

B. Natural selection explains how evolution can occur

1. 4 main principles to theory of natural

selection

a. Variation- variations in populations are

basis for natural selection.

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b. Overproduction- organisms produce more

offspring than will survive (creates competition)

c. Adaptation- Some adaptations allow organism to

survive at higher rate and individuals are

“naturally selected” to survive and produce

offspring

d. Descent with Modification- Over time, natural

selection will result in species with adaptations

that are well suited for survival

Before the industrial revolution, soot was rare in the

English countryside. A light-colored moth was

difficult to see against the clean bark.

Which moth would most likely be noticed by a

hungry bird?

2. Fitness- measure of ability to survive and produce

more offspring relative to other members of a

population

C. Natural selection acts on existing variation

1. Natural selection acts on phenotypes (not

genetic material itself)

2. As environment

changes, different

traits will become

beneficial.

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IV. Evidence of Evolution (10.4)

A. Evidence for evolution in Darwin’s time

came from several sources

1.Fossils- supported Darwin’s “descent

with modification”

2. Geography- Darwin realized that finches found on

Galapagos Islands closely resembled those

found on mainland.

a. Over time new traits became well established in

separate island populations

b. The different environments on each island led

tospecific adaptations in diets, habits, and beak

shapes

3. Embryology- Similarities in embryos showed

relation-ships between organisms and possible

common ancestor

4. Anatomy- Some of Darwin’s best evidence came

from comparing body parts of different species

a. homologous structures-

features that are similar in

structure but have different

functions (suggested

common ancestor) (i.e.

forelimbs of vertebrates)

b. analogous structures-structures that perform

similar function but are not similar in origin (i.e.

wings of bats and insects)

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B. Structural patterns are clues to the history of a

species

1. vestigial structures- structures or organs

that seem to lack any useful function that had a

function in early ancestor

2. Examples of vestigial structures found in

many organisms. (e.g. human appendix, wings

of Ostriches)

V. Evolutionary Biology Today (10.5)

A. Fossils provide a record of evolution

1. Paleontology- study of

fossils or extinct organisms

2. Fossil evidence shows

change in forms over time.

3. New fossils found that fill

in “gaps” (transitional forms)

Chimp chromosomes (24 pair) Human chromosomes (23 pair)

B. Molecular and genetic evidence support fossil

and anatomical evidence

1. DNA sequence analysis- more closely

related have more similar DNA

2. Pseudogenes- genes that no longer function.

Similarities in organisms suggest common

ancestor

3. Protein comparisons- Similarities in proteins

found in specific cell types suggest common

ancestor

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C. Evolution unites all fields of biology

1. New discoveries and tools helping to study

mechanisms of evolution

2. Principles used to study medicine, disease,

ecology, etc. To avoid going extinct a population

must not only survive, but also

reproduce. Yale's Paul Turner,

associate professor of ecology and

evolutionary biology, tested the

practicality of luring a virus

population into the wrong cells

within the human body, thus

preventing virus reproduction and

alleviating disease.

Chapter 10

Principles of

Evolution

During the voyage of the Beagle, many of

Darwin's observations were made

a. in England.

b. in North America.

c. on the Galápagos Islands.

d. in Africa.

The species of finches that Darwin found on the

Galápagos Islands displayed different structural

adaptations. One of the adaptations that Darwin

noted was the

a. similarities of the birds' embryos.

b. birds' differently shaped beaks.

c. length of the birds' necks.

d. number of eggs in each bird's nest.

Hutton and Lyell's work suggested that

a. Earth is millions of years old.

b. Earth is several thousand years old.

c. fossils are not the remains of living things.

d. all rocks on Earth contain fossils.

Hutton and Lyell's work suggested that

a. Earth is millions of years old.

b. Earth is several thousand years old.

c. fossils are not the remains of living things.

d. all rocks on Earth contain fossils.

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Hutton and Lyell's work was important to Darwin

because it

a. was the first to attempt to explain

catastrophic events such as earthquakes.

b. completely explained the nature of all

geologic events on Earth.

c. suggested that Earth was old enough for

evolution to have occurred.

d. refuted the work of Wallace, which relied

on misunderstandings about geology.

Which is a major concept included in Lamarck's

theory of evolution?

a. Change is the result of mutations.

b. Body structure can change according to

the needs of the organism.

c. Selection pressures decrease the rate of

evolution.

d. Sexual reproduction is the genetic basis

for variations.

The economist Malthus suggested that

a. people die faster than babies are born.

b. babies are born faster than people die.

c. in the 1700s, Earth was overrun by

people.

d. in the 2000s, the seas will be overrun by

oysters.

Darwin was prompted to publish his theory of

evolution by

a. an essay by Wallace on evolution.

b. the publication of Lamarck's theory of

evolution.

c. the vice governor of the Galápagos

Islands.

d. his wife.

When Darwin returned from the voyage of the

Beagle, he

a. immediately publish his theory of

evolution.

b. realized his theory of evolution was wrong.

c. waited many years to publish his theory of

evolution.

d. copied the evolutionary theory of Wallace.

When a farmer breeds only his or her best

livestock, the process involved is

a. natural selection.

b. artificial selection.

c. artificial variation.

d. survival of the fittest.

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According to Darwin's theory of natural

selection, individuals who survive are most likely

the ones best adapted to exist in their

environment. Their survival is due to the

a. possession of structures developed

through use.

b. possession of adaptations that maximize

fitness.

c. lack of competition within the species.

d. ability to change their genotype.

An adaptation is a characteristic that can be

physical or

a. behavioral.

b. geographical.

c. acquired.

d. that does not affect fitness.

When lions prey on a herd of antelope, some

antelope are eliminated. Which part of Darwin's

theory of evolution may be used to describe this

situation?

a. acquired characteristics

b. reproductive isolation

c. survival of the fittest

d. speciation due to mutations

According to Darwin's theory of natural

selection, the individuals that tend to survive are

those that have

a. characteristics their parents acquired by

use and disuse.

b. undergone mutations.

c. the smallest number of offspring.

d. variations best suited to the environment.

What is evolution?

a. the increased reproductive success of the

fittest individuals

b. the diminished reproductive success of

poorly adapted individuals

c. the change in the inherited characteristics

of a population

d. the struggle for existence undergone by all

living things

The pelvis and femur of the whale shown in

Figure _____________.

a. allow the whale to walk.

b. are vestigial structures.

c. are acquired traits.

d. are not inherited.

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The observation by Darwin that finches of

different species on the Galápagos Islands have

many similar physical characteristics supports

the conclusion that these finches

a. have the ability to interbreed.

b. acquired traits through use and disuse.

c. all eat the same type of food.

d. originated from a common ancestor.

The number and location of bones of many

fossil vertebrates are similar to those in living

vertebrates. Most evolutionary biologists would

probably explain this on the basis of

a. the needs of the organism.

b. a common ancestor.

c. a chance occurrence.

d. the inheritance of acquired traits.

The theory that organisms evolve, or change,

over time by natural selection was proposed by

a. Hutton.

b. Lamarck.

c. Malthus.

d. Darwin.

Which statement is in agreement with Darwin's

theory of evolution?

a. More offspring are produced than can

possibly survive.

b. The organisms that are the fittest are

always largest.

c. Number of offspring is not related to

fitness.

d. Acquired characteristics are inherited.

Which phrase best defines evolution by natural

selection?

a. an adaptation of an organism to its

environment

b. a sudden replacement of one community

by another

c. a geographic or reproductive isolation of

organisms

d. a process of change in organisms over a

period of time

The following dog breeds were produced by the

process known as ______________.

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The diagram below represents what type of

structures?

What is the name of the book in which Charles

Darwin presented his theory of evolution?