Evidence for Evolution

Todays Lesson
Check and take up homework
Mixing and Matching Adaptations
Evidence for Evolution
Class Discussion
Assignment
Think, pair, share

Mixing and Matching Adaptations

1. Biogeography
The scientific study of the geographic
distribution of organisms on both living
species and fossils
- Oceanic islands became populated by
species that arrived by water or air. Evolution
occurred once these species had been
established
- Loss of instinctive fear and defensive traits
due to the absence of predators
- Geographically isolated species
- Unique species most closely resemble
species on the nearest continental land
mass
ex. Madagascar and Africa

2. Fossil Record (strongest evidence)

Fossils and the order in which they appear in layers
of sedimentary rock
Fossil- any ancient remains, impressions, or traces of an
organism/its activity that have been preserved in rocks or
other mineral deposits in Earths crust
- Fossils of simple organisms found at all depths
- Fossils of complex organisms found only at shallow depths
(resemble living species)
Why do some rock layers contain fossils of species that do
not occur in layers above or below them?

2. Fossil Record (strongest evidence)

In the absence of oxygen, organisms do not decay

Where might fossils be especially preserved?
If oxygen is present, organism usually decays before it fossilizes
Organisms with hard body parts are more likely to be preserved
i.e. shells, bones, teeth

2. Fossil Record (strongest evidence)

Catastrophism- the pattern of
fossils can be accounted for by
a series of global catastrophes
that wiped out most species on
Earth
ex. Floods, KT impact
Uniformitarianism- geological
changes are slow and natural
laws have not changed over
time

3. Taxonomy
Classification of life forms
The properties that scientists use
to classify species (i.e. appearance,
genetic code, family, etc.) is
similar to evolutionary
relationships

4. Homologous Structures
Darwin was struck by the numerous
instances in which similar
structures of two organisms could
have entirely different functions.
Similar to an engineer designing
the same internal frame design for
a canoe paddle, aircraft wing and
robotic hand!
All mammals have an almost
identical number and arrangement
of bones

Other Features
Analogous features a structure that performs the same function as
another but is not similar in origin or anatomical structure
Ex. Bird and insect wings
Eagle and fly eyes
Vestigial features rudimentary and
non-functioning, or only marginally
functioning, structure that is homologous to a
fully functioning structure in closely related species
Ex. Frigate birds and upland geese have webbed feet but never enter
the water
- Goosebumps in humans

5. Comparative Embryology
Study of structures that appear during
embryonic development.
Many species possess similar structures to
one another during embryonic
development
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAZmLYWEPGk

6. Molecular Biology
DNA analysis reveals
genetic similarity between
species and organisms. This
method can be used to
infer evolutionary
relationships.

Think, Pair, Share

Discuss three things you have learned in
todays lesson with your elbow partner