by Natural Selection
Molecular record
protein & DNA sequence
Artificial selection
human-caused evolution
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Fossil record
Layers of sedimentary rock contain fossils
new layers cover older ones, creating a
record over time
fossils within layers show that a
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Fossil Record
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Fossil record
A record showing us that today’s organisms
descended from ancestral species
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Evolutionary change in horses
550
500
450
Body size (kg) Equus
400
350
300
250 Merychippus
200
150 Mesohippus
Hyracotherium
100
50
Nannippus
60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
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Millions of years ago
Evolution of birds
Archaeopteryx
lived about 150 mya
links reptiles & birds
Smithsonian Museum,
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Washington, DC
Land Mammal
?
?
th e ?
are
re
Whe sitional ?
tran ils?
foss
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2006 Fossil Discovery of Early Tetrapod
Tiktaalik
“missing link” from sea to land animals
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Anatomical record
Homologous structures
similarities in characteristics resulting
from common ancestry
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Homologous structures
Similar structure
Similar development
Different functions
Evidence of close
evolutionary relationship
recent common ancestor
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Homologous structures spines
leaves
succulent leaves
tendrils
needles
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colored leaves
Analogous structures
Separate evolution of structures
similar functions
similar external form
different origin
no evolutionary relationship
Don’t be fooled
by their looks!
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Convergent evolution
Fish: aquatic vertebrates
Dolphins: aquatic mammals
similar adaptations to
life in the sea
not closely related
marsupial
mammals
placental
mammals
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Parallel types across continents
Niche Placental Mammals Australian Marsupials
Anteater
Anteater Numbat
Stalking
predator Ocelot Tasmanian cat
Chasing
predator
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Vestigial organs
Modern animals may have structures that
serve little or no function
remnants of structures that were functional in
ancestral species
deleterious mutations accumulate in genes for
non-critical structures without reducing fitness
snakes & whales — remains of pelvis & leg bones of
walking ancestors
eyes on blind cave fish
human tail bone
This is not
LaMarck’s loss
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Vestigial organs
Hind leg bones on whale fossils
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Comparative embryology
Similar embryological development in
closely related species
all vertebrate embryos have similar
structures at different stages of development
gill pouch in fish, frog, snake, birds, human, etc.
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Molecular record
Comparing DNA & protein structure
universal genetic code!
DNA & RNA Why compare
these genes?
compare common genes
cytochrome C (respiration)
hemoglobin (gas exchange)
Human/kangaroo
100
Human/
cow
Closely related species have Dog/
cow
Nucleotide substitutions
75
Rabbit/
sequences that are more similar rodent
Human/rodent
50 Horse/ Llama/
than distantly related species donkey cow
Horse/cow
Sheep/
DNA & proteins are a molecular 25
goat Pig/
cow
8 32 45 67 125
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Artificial selection
Artificial breeding can use variations in
populations to create vastly different
“breeds” & “varieties”
reproduce
resistance is inherited
insecticide becomes
-- Theodosius Dobzhansky
March 1973
Geneticist, Columbia University
(1900-1975)
AP Biology 2007-2008
Evolution is "so overwhelmingly
established that it has become
irrational to call it a theory."
-- Ernst Mayr
What Evolution Is
2001
Professor Emeritus, Evolutionary Biology
Harvard University
(1904-2005)
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Don’t be a Dodo…
Ask Questions!!
AP Biology 2007-2008