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Chapter 16: Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

Chapter 16: Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Section 16-4: Evidence of Evolution. Biogeography. The study of where organisms live now and where they and their ancestors lived in the past Patterns of distribution tell how modern organisms evolved from ancestors Two patterns important to Darwin:

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Chapter 16: Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

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  1. Chapter 16: Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Section 16-4: Evidence of Evolution

  2. Biogeography • The study of where organisms live now and where they and their ancestors lived in the past • Patterns of distribution tell how modern organisms evolved from ancestors • Two patterns important to Darwin: • Closely related but different – Galapagos species similar to mainland species, suggests natural selection caused variations • Distantly related but similar – similar habitats can lead to similar adaptations in distantly related species

  3. The Age of the Earth and Fossils • Hutton/Lyell argued Earth was old – but how old? • Modern geologists use radioactive dating to determine age of rocks/fossils • Earth is about 4.5 billion years old • Darwin’s study of fossils convinced him, but paleontologists had not yet found enough fossils of intermediate species • Since then, many have been found • Whales from ancient land mammals

  4. Recent Fossil Finds • History of life incomplete • Always more to learn • Evidence shows change

  5. Comparing Anatomy and Embryology • All vertebrate limbs have same basic bone structure • Animals with similar structures evolved from common ancestor • Homologous structures – same basic structure, shows common ancestry – different function • Study anatomical details, development in embryos, pattern of appearance • Similarities/differences show how recently organisms shared a common ancestor

  6. Comparing Anatomy and Embryology • Common structure = common descent, not common function • Body parts that share common function but not structure are analogous structures • Bee wing and bird wing

  7. Comparing Anatomy and Embryology • Vestigial structures – inherited from ancestors but have lost much of their original function • Ex: hipbones of dolphins, wings of flightless birds • Maybe presence of structure has no affect on fitness

  8. Comparing Anatomy and Embryology • Early developmental stages of many vertebrates look similar • Cells develop in the same order • Shows common ancestry

  9. Genetics and Molecular Biology • Central dogma • Genetic code is universal – most organisms share the same genes • Shows common ancestry

  10. Homologous Molecules • Homologous proteins share structural/chemical similarities • Ex: Similar versions of cytochrome c (cellular respiration) found in all living cells • Can also have homologous genes – Hox genes direct limb development • Minor changes in genes leads to major changes in structures

  11. Testing Natural Selection • Gather evidence by observing it in action • Grants and the Galapagos finches (read in text!) • Showed competition and environmental change drive natural selection • Heritable variation the key – increased variation increases likelihood of adapting/surviving changes

  12. Evaluating Evolutionary Theory • Theory of evolution considered the grand unifying theory of the life sciences • Constantly being reviewed as new data is gathered • Questions that remain are about how evolution works, not whether it occurs

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