Survival of the Fittest• Darwin realized that if those long

beaked finches ended up on the nut island, and only two survived because their beaks were a little stronger, than they would probably mate with each other, since all the other finches were dead!

• Since we inherit traits from our parents, there would be a good chance that their chicks would have stronger beaks too, and also be able to survive on the nut island. Any chicks with weak beaks would die, but strong beaks would live and have babies of their own. After a few million years of this, a whole new species of finch would exist – one where every member had strong beaks.

The Theory of Evolution• 1 – All species are the product of their

environments. Each plant and animal has to be able to survive in its environment, or it would have died out long ago.

• 2 – Each animal that is best at surviving has the best chance at living longest and at having more children. Thus, over time, every type of animal adapts to its environment more and more, becoming stronger, faster, smarter, etc.

• 3 – Because of this, each type of animal must share a common ancestor. For example, all types of cats probably came from one species of cat millions of years ago. Some became strong in order to kill big game, and these evolved into Lions. Some grew stripes to hide in the shadowy jungle, and these became Tigers.

• Darwin called the act of making an animal better “survival of the fittest” and the process of creating new types of animals “evolution.”

• He wrote down his ideas in a book called “On the Origin of Species”

Some of Darwin’s finches – not the difference in beak size and shape, as well as differences in feather colour to suit local background colours.

And the inevitable question…• The Origin of Species was hailed as an

important text around the world, but it did create controversy, just as Darwin feared.

• The problem was that in the book, Darwin only talked about birds, lizards, cats, etc., but left one important animal out – humans.

• People demanded to know where Darwin thought humans came from. Even though most people at the time believed the Biblical story of Adam and Eve, Darwin wrote a second book called “The Decent of Man” where he explained that he felt that humans had evolved from an ape-like creature millions of years ago.

• His ideas were very controversial, especially because he had no proof.

• If humans had evolved from apes, than there would have to be many steps in between early apes and modern humans.

• Where was the evidence of a half human, half ape creature?

• Where were the fossils or geologic evidence? Where was the “missing link” between apes and humans? Darwin died without ever finding out.

…and the answer• In 1973, several scientists were

working in Ethiopia, when they made an amazing discovery.

• They found most of a female skeleton from an unknown species that lived 3.2 million years ago.

• The head, face and brain were mostly ape-like, with some human characteristics, but she walked mostly upright, like we do, and had other human characteristics too.

• This was the missing link scientists had been searching for between apes and humans. The skeleton was named Lucy, and is now one of the most important historical artifacts in the world.

• What parts of human bodies are proof of relationship to apes?

Evolutionary Leftovers• Long ago, humans needed

the following things to survive.

• As we have evolved, they have ceased to be important, so we are slowly evolving them out of our bodies.

• However, we still have traces of these old traits, called vestigial traits.

• What were these things for?

• The appendix?• Wisdom teeth?• The coccyx?• Goosebumps?• Wiggling your ears?• Your foot’s plantaris

muscle• Infant grasping?

Notice the similarities?

Appendix and Wisdom teeth

Vestigial Tail, Goosebumps

Grasping, Jacobson’s organ

Charles Darwin

A Crushing Environment

• What would happen to humans if our environment changed so that atmospheric pressure increased – like we were being squeezed by large weights?

• Could anyone survive? Who?

• What mutations would our kids need if we want to survive as a species?

HOW MS. HORNE SPENDS HER WEEKENDS

• “Whenever I get a package of plain M&M's, I make it my duty to expand the strength of the candy as a species. To this end, I hold M&M duels.

• Taking two candies between my thumb and forefinger, I apply pressure, squeezing them together until one of them breaks and splinters. That is the "loser," and I eat the inferior one immediately. The winner gets to go another round.

• I have found that, in general, the brown and red M&Ms are toughest, and the blue ones are genetically inferior. I think that the blue M&Ms as a race cannot survive long in the intense theater of competition that is the modern candy and snack-food world.

• Occasionally I will get a mutation, a candy that is misshapen, or pointier, or flatter than the rest. Usually, this is a weakness, but on very rare occasions it gives the candy extra strength. In this way, the species continues to adapt to its environment.

• When I reach the end of the pack, I am left with one M&M, the strongest of the herd. Since it would make no sense to eat this one as well, I pack it neatly in an envelope and send it to M&M Mars, A Division of Mars, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ 17840-1503 U.S.A., along with a 3x5 card reading, "Please use this M&M for breeding purposes.”

• This week they wrote back to thank me, and sent me a free 1/2 pound bag of plain M&Ms. I have set aside this weekend for a grand tournament. From a field of hundreds, only the fittest will survive.

M&M FIGHT TO THE DEATH! WHO WILL SURVIVE?!?!?

• 1 – Get a few M&Ms from the teacher.• 2 – Pick any two and squeeze them between your thumb and index finger.• 3 – The first one to break dies. Don’t worry, it was obviously weak and unfit for

survival. Throw it out just like mother nature did to the dinosaurs.• 4 – If they both break, throw them both out. Losers!• 5 – Set aside the winner and continue with your other M&Ms. When you have

reduced your herd to only the strong, pit the winners against each other. Don’t stop till you have only one M&M left, the strongest of the group.

• 6 – Find a partner and pit your best M&M against theirs. Take the winning M&M to another partner.

• 7 – Eventually, only one person will have an M&M left, and it will be the strongest of the whole bag. I will send this M&M back to Hershey, who will breed it on their M&M ranches in order to make the species stronger.

• 8 – This works! Just a generation ago, M&Ms were all very weak and thin shelled, and many broke in their packaging. Now, through natural selection, we have been able to breed a race of super candy, strong enough to withstand…wait…what’s that? It sounds like…candy breaking down the door? OH NO! THE M&MS ARE REBELLING! THEY ARE TOO STRONG, NOTHING CAN STOP THEM!!! OUR ONLY HOPE IS TO BREED SUPER SKITTLES TO SAVE US! OH THE HUMANITY! GET TO THE SKITTLE RANCH BEFORE ITS TOO LA

The Panda Problem

Quiz Time!

Quiz 2 – Darwin • 1 – What was the name of

Darwin’s ship?• 2 – What group of islands did

Darwin visit?• 3 – What type of bird did Darwin

base his famous theory upon?• 4 – Apart from the answer to

number 3, name another type of animal that Darwin found on the islands.

• 5 – What is the name for the single “supercontinent” that used to exist millions of years ago?

• 6 – What was the name of the book in which Darwin recorded his theory of evolution?

• 7 – What was the name of the book where he recorded how evolution applies to humans?

• 8 - What is the name given to the “missing link”?

• 9 – Name one strange animal only found on islands (do not repeat #s 3 or 4).

• 10 – Name one part of your body that is left over from our evolution from apes.

• 1 –Beagle• 2 – Galapagos• 4 – Either iguanas,

seals, tortoises, or penguins.

• 5 – Pangaea• 3 - Finches

• 6 – The Origin of Species• 7 – The Decent of Man• 8 – Lucy• 9 – platapus, Tasmanian

devil, etc.• 10 – appendix, falling

reflex, tailbone, etc..