Evolution Notes

Evolution is just a theory isnt it?

Yes it is.
but what is a theory anyway?
Popular Definition of a guess or hunch. Theory - a _____

Scientific Definition of a Theory - a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of __________ the natural world. Scientific Theories are based evidence facts, and have on _______, tested in many ways. been ______

Where did the Theory of Evolution come from? The theory of evolution was thought of Charles ______ Darwin and by both _______ Alfred ______ Russell _______. Wallace ______

 Charles Darwin studied traits of Galapagos Islands organisms on the ________ and developed the theory of evolution natural ________. selection by ______

 Alfred Russell Wallace studied Malay traits of organisms on the _____ Archipelago of islands and coined survival of the fittest . the term __________________

What is Evolution?
Evolution is the process of species changing over time _______________ to better suit their environment. Species: a group of organisms that can mate with one ____ another to produce fertile offspring. ______

This is an Agrias butterfly from South America

Species change over time because of mutations and ______________ natural selection . ________
changes Mutations: ______ Point of to an organisms Mutation DNA made during ______. meiosis

Mutations create variations in a ________ population.

Natural Selection
In Natural Selection organisms with traits best suited to favorable _____ their environment are more likely to reproduce . survive and _________ ______
Which color variation do you think is better suited to survive?

The Process of Natural Selection

1. Overproduction: organisms in a

offspring population produce more ________ than their environment can support. survive long Not all offspring will ______ enough to reproduce.
Green Sea Turtles lay 100 eggs in a clutch

Only one or two will survive to adulthood

The Process of Natural Selection

2. There must be variations within ________ the species. Variation: differences _________ traits among _____ between individuals of the same species.

inherited Variations must be _______ from an organisms parents.

The Process of Natural Selection

struggle to ______ survive in 3. Organisms _______ their environment. disease competition & Starvation, ______, predation limit populations of all ________ species.

 Organisms that survive the struggle have

o

helpful variations of _____ traits (adaptations) ______ survive that help them ______.
Adaptations: features that make an environment so it organism suited for its __________ reproduce , & pass its genes/ can survive, _________ alleles onto its The environment offspring.
changes and it becomes too cold for dogs with short and medium fur.

Heres an example of Evolution in action. This is happening all over the world!

What is the flies adaptation?

The Process of Natural Selection 4. Selection (successful reproduction): The members of a population inherited that have ________ helpful variations of traits will be more likely survive and to ______ reproduce ________.
A saddleback tortoise from Pinzn Island

How do new species form? speciation : the formation Thats called _________

of a new species as a result of evolution. one species Speciation occurs when ___ evolves into ___ two different ______ species that ______ cant reproduce with each other anymore.

How do new species form?

group of 1. Separation - when a _____ separated from individuals becomes _________ the rest of the population. Can be caused by a newly formed canyon, ______ movement of mountain range, lake or ________ plates Earths tectonic _____.

How do new species form?

groups 2. Adaptation - Separated ______ affected by natural continue to be ________ selection in their new, different ________ traits can be Different _____ environments. ________ favored and over many generations can _______ spread through the population. ______

Kaibab squirrel

Abert squirrel

The formation of the grand canyon separated the Tassel-Eared squirrel population. Over time the different environments favored different traits causing the formation of two new species.

How do new species form? 3. Reproductive Isolation - Over time the populations can become separated _________ NOT be able so different that they may ____ successfully with each other mate __________ to _____ anymore. The populations are now different ______. species two ________ considered to be ___

This example shows how the finches on the Galapagos Islands may have evolved.

Is there Evidence for Evolution?

Lots..

fossil genetic

biological

fossil ______ record is all of the fossils that The _____ have been found.
examining the fossil record we can see By _________ what lived in the past.
Comparing organisms in the fossil record provides evidence for how organisms have changed over time ________________.

Fossil Evidence

Land Mammal

?
Do we have any fossil evidence for intermediate species.

? ?

All of these are intermediate species

Biological Evidence

Embryology The study of early development in organisms ________. o During early development the __________, embryos of a shark, a rabbit, and a gorilla look similar. This suggests an evolutionary relationship among __________ all vertebrates.

 Homologous Structures are similar

o

Homologous Structures

different functions. structures with ________ bone ________ structure of the human The ____ arm, the front leg of a cat, the front flipper of a dolphin, and the wing of a similar bat are all ______.

 Vestigial Organs show how some

o

Vestigial Organs/Structures

organisms are related to modern ________ ancestors. hip For Example: Whales have small ___ bones.

 Scientists can tell how closely organisms

Genetic Evidence

comparing their ____. DNA are related by ________ similar the DNA, the more The more ______ related the organisms are closely ______ (possibly evolved from common ancestor).

How do we show evolutionary relationships?

branching _______ diagrams to show how Use ________ organisms are related. Branching diagrams (cladograms) show characteristics organisms _____ share which _____________ and when these organisms evolved ______.

grouped in the diagram by Organisms are _______ shared _______ derived _____________ characteristics . their ______ trait that o Derived characteristic: a ____ organisms _____ share two or more kinds of _________ with their most recent common ancestor ________.
These are the derived characteristics

more derived ____________ characteristics The ____ more closely organisms share, the ____ related the organisms probably are. ______
o
The house cat is more closely related to the lion because they have the most characteristics in common (having hair, mammary glands, birthing live young & retractable claws).

Each characteristic listed on the shared by the diagram is only ______ organisms _____ above it. ________
o
The Brown bear has the characteristics of hair, mammary glands & birthing live young. It does not have retractable claws and the ability to purr. These characteristics are listed above the Brown bear in the diagram, therefore it does not have them.

higher on the Characteristics shown _____ diagram are more _____ recent than the _______ characteristics below them.
o
The ability to purr is listed highest (or last) on the diagram. This means it is the most recent most recent characteristic to evolve and only the house cat has it. The characteristic of having hair & mammary glands is listed first on the diagram. This means it evolved first, or it is the oldest oldest characteristic in the diagram. All organisms in the diagram have this characteristic.