Changes through time Survival of the Fittest Evidence

Changes through time “Survival of the Fittest”

Evidence that life has changed and is now changing

Fossil Record § Fossils are remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past.

Fossil Record § Fossils are usually found in sedimentary rock. § Organisms are buried soon after death and the hard parts become fossilized.

Fossil Record § Fossils indicate a great deal about the actual structure of the organisms and their environment.

Types of fossils § Petrified Bones

Types of fossils § Imprints

Types of fossils § Molds/Casts

Types of fossils § Fossils preserved in tar, amber, or ice

Relative Age of Fossils § Layering of fossils: § Older fossils are found in the lower levels of sediment

Relative Age of Fossils § Layering of fossils: § Newer fossils deposited on top of older fossils and sediment § Sometimes flipped by earthquakes, etc.

Relative Age of Fossils

Relative Age of Fossils § Fossils in each layer usually of those organisms that lived at the time the layer was formed. § Fossils in lower layers represent species that lived earlier than those found in the upper layers. § Relative position only tells which are older and which younger.

Evolution of the Horse § Over time (higher layers of sediment) horse fossils became larger § Separate toes became a single-toed hoof § Teeth became adapted to grinding grasses

Radiometric Dating § Some elements, such as uranium, undergo radioactive decay to produce other elements. § Scientists have observed that radioactive elements (isotopes) decay at a constant rate over time

Radiometric Dating § The amount of radioactive elements remaining in a rock can help scientists determine how much time has elapsed since the rock was formed and cooled. § Common isotopes used for long-term dating (old rocks) include uranium as it decays to lead, and potassium as it decays to argon. § The carbon-14 isotope can be used for dating of more recent fossils and artifacts

Radiocarbon Dating § Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope found in all living organisms. § It decays at a known rate. § Carbon-12 does not decay. § By comparing the ratio of C-12 to C-14 scientists believe they can determine the age of a fossil

Radiocarbon Dating

A timescale § Based on radiometric data, scientists have proposed a timeline for the history of the earth. § Composed of four primary “eras” § § Archeozoic (oldest) [aka Precambrian period] Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic (most recent)

Contemporary Changes § Evidences we can observe within our lifetime § Pesticide resistance in insects

Contemporary Changes § Evidences we can observe within our lifetime § Antibiotic resistant bacteria

Indirect evidences § Scientists cite these indirect evidences as evidence of common ancestry § § Homologous structures Embryonic development patterns Biochemical evidence Vestigial organs § They at least demonstrate a common pattern of development

Parts of the body with similar structure (homologous) Human Cat Whale Bat

Similar patterns of embryonic development (homologous) Human Swine Reptile Yes, you had a tail as an embryo! Bird

Homologous Development – actual photos of embryos Reptile Bird Rabbit Human

Biochemical similarities – DNA and Proteins § The ability to analyze individual biological molecules (DNA and proteins) has provided evidence for biochemical similarities

Methods of Change

Jean Baptiste Larmarck § French naturalist and evolutionary theorist § 1744 -1829 § Proposed the inheritance of acquired characteristics § Based on an “inner need” to change

Larmarck’s theory § His theory was disproved

Charles Darwin and Natural Selection (1859) § Naturalist on the HMS Beagle

Charles Darwin and Natural Selection (1859) § Exploration of South America (3 ½ years) § Visited the Galapagos Islands

Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection 1. Living things increase in number geometrically (overproduction) 2. There is no net increase in the number of individuals over a long period of time Spider eggs: Many more produced than will survive

Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection 3. A “struggle for existence” since not all individuals can survive 4. No two individuals exactly alike (variation)

Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection 5. In the struggle for existence, those variations which are better adapted to their environment leave behind them proportionately more offspring than those less adapted “Survival of the Fittest”

A Modern Perspective 1. Mutation – a sudden change in the genetic material (a source of variation) Example: The DNA of one bacteria changes (becomes mutated), allowing it to become resistant to an antibiotic. It survives long enough to reproduce. Each succeeding generation has the mutated copy and is resistant to the antibiotic.

A Modern Perspective 2. Recombination of genes within a population (sexual reproduction) § § Provides new combinations for natural selection to try. Shows how the percentage of a gene in a population can change.

A Modern Perspective 3. Isolation – separation of a population from others of the same kind (species) § § Prevents recombination of genes Species become different overtime § Example: A species of primrose existed together where the Promontory Range (Northern Utah) now exists. When the range lifted up, it isolated two groups. Both became different as they adapted to the different environments on either side of the range. They have become so different they can no longer reproduce.

A Modern Perspective 4. Natural Selection – certain traits give an adaptive advantage to organisms and they leave behind more offspring They survive long enough to reproduce and pass on their genetic information INDIVIDUALS DO NOT EVOLVE. . . POPULATIONS EVOLVE OVER TIME

Species § A group of individuals that LOOK similar and are capable of producing FERTILE offspring in the natural environment.

Population § All of the members of the same SPECIES that live in particular AREA at the same TIME.

Variation in a population § Bell Curve - The distribution of traits (Average is the middle. ) § Mode - The number that occurs most often (High pt. ) § Range - The lowest number to the highest number

Sexual Selection § Preferential choice of a MATE based on the presence of a specific trait

Speciation § The formation of new SPECIES

Isolation § Separation of a formerly successful BREEDING population

Geographic Isolation § Separated PHYSICALLY from each other

Reproductive Isolation § Can no longer produce FERTILE offspring

Extinction § When an entire SPECIES dies off.

Gene pool § The collection of GENES for all of the traits in a POPULATION

Hardy-Weinberg Principle § Genetic Equilibrium – no CHANGE in the gene pool

Conditions that must exist for genetic equilibrium 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. No MUTATION No MIGRATION Large POPULATION Random MATING No NATURAL SELECTION

Natural Selection Three types of selection 1. Stabilizing Selection 2. Directional Selection 3. Disruptive Selection

Stabilizing Selection § Individuals with the AVERAGE form have the ADVANTAGE § Example – lizards that are small are not fast enough to avoid predators; lizards that are large cannot hide easily from predators; those of average size are both fast enough to get away from predators and small enough to hide – giving them the selective advantage.

Directional Selection § Individuals with one of the EXTREME forms have the ADVANTAGE § Example – Peppermoth in Great Britain during the industrial revolution – “melanistic” (dark colored) moths had the selective advantage after trees where covered in coal soot. After air quality improved, the selection advantage returned to the lighter colored moths.

Directional Selection § Peppermoth – find two moths per picture

As the ants dig deeper, anteaters with longer tongues have the adaptive advantage – survive to reproduce.

Disruptive Selection § Individuals with either of the EXTREME forms have the ADVANTAGE § Example: a shellfish living in shallow ocean water is preyed upon by a bird. Originally those with the neutral color (sand colored) had the advantage because they were camouflaged in the sand. As the birds fed on the shellfish and left their feces behind in the water, the ocean floor became white in color. Those shellfish that were sand colored are now easily found while the lighter colored shellfish are able to blend in, as are the darker colored shellfish if they are found on the darker rocks.

How have crops and livestock changed over the last 50 years? In producing better livestock or crops, what are some examples of traits for which producers select?

Then

Now

Then

Now

Then

Now

Then

Now

Then § Removing Seeds

Now § Seedless

Then § Dehorning

Now § Polled

Natural Selection § an organisms’ ability to SURVIVE and pass on its GENETIC information to its offspring.

Selective Breeding § Also known as Artificial Selection § Human control over organisms passing on their genetic information. § Human determination of those crops and livestock allowed to reproduce § Based on desired traits

Selective Breeding In what ways is selective breeding similar to natural selection? In what ways is it different?

Archeozoic Era § Oldest known rocks and fossils § Animals without backbones § Jelly-fish, worms, sponges § Bacteria and blue-green algae

Paleozoic Era § Estimated from 248 -550 million years ago § Animals: Fish, amphibians, and insects § Plants: Algae and simple plants; first conifers

Mesozoic Era § § Estimated from 65 -248 million years ago Age of the Dinosaurs Animals: Reptiles and birds Plants: Conifers and first flowering plants

Cenozoic Era § Estimated from present to 65 million years ago § Age of the Mammals § Animals: Mammals and birds § Plants: Flowering plants