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Discuss the evidence that humans and great apes share a recent common ancestor.
What is Evolution?
Evolution: Change in the ____________________ ___________________of organisms that occurs over the course of generations. Evolutionary changes are inherited via genes. Other changes may take place because of environmental changes and are not necessarily evolutionary.
1960s, the WHO began a campaign to eradicate the mosquitoes that transmit malaria.
Used DDT, to which some mosquitoes have evolved resistance.
Natural Selection Natural selection: in a population, individuals with certain heritable traits can _______________ ___________better than other individuals without these traits. Individuals with these traits leave _______ offspring than others. The offspring tend to have these traits that are favorable for that environment. Thus, over time the frequency of the favorable traits _____________ in the population.
Evolutionary Adaptation
The result of natural selection is evolutionary adaptation. Adaptation: an inherited characteristic that _______________ an organisms ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
Evolutionary Adaptation
The result of natural selection is evolutionary adaptation. The Peppered Moth
Microevolution vs Macroevolution Microevolution: changes that occur within a species and the characteristics of a population. Easily observed, relatively non-controversial. Macroevolution: changes that occur, as a result of microevolution, over long periods of time and result in the origin of new species. Controversial among non-biologists.
The Theory of Common Descent All species present on earth today are descendents of a single common ancestor. All species represent the product of millions of years of accumulated evolutionary changes.
Organisms observed today Time (thousands of generations)
Evolution
Evolution
Common ancestor
Charles Darwin
Father of modern evolution (Darwinism)
Ideas shaped by
Voyage of the HMS Beagle
Employed as ships naturalist Collected thousands of specimens Observed various adaptations in organisms
~600 mi
Galapagos Islands tortoises vary with their environments. Each island had tortoises, but each island had a different type.
He noted a similar pattern with iguanas. Each island had its own type, yet they had similarity to each other and to the ones on the mainland.
Darwin and The Origin of Species 1836, Returned to Great Britain but did not publish his ideas immediately.
1859, Published On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection 1. Contemporary species were not created in their present form but evolved from ancestral species by modification over time (ie decent with modification). 2. Proposed a mechanism for evolution: NATURAL SELECTION
Darwins Theory of Natural Selection Based his theory of natural selection on 2 key observations:
Observation 1: Overproduction
All species tend to produce excessive numbers. This leads to a struggle for existence.
Time
(c) Separate types Species do change over time, and new species can arise; but each group of species derives from a separate ancestor that arose independently.
Difference in form
Time
(d) Common descent Species do change over time, and new species can arise. All species derive from a common ancestor.
Difference in form
Time
Difference in form
Time
Difference in form
Biological Classification Organisms classified into a hierarchy according to biological similarities Linnean classification:
Most inclusive groups
(share general characteristics)
Intermediate embryo
Late embryo
Examples:
Boa-constrictors grow tiny hind legs
More closely related species have more similarity in DNA and protein sequences than more distantly related species.
Biogeography Biogeography: the study of the _____________ _______________________________ of species. Related species should be close to each other. Example: Different species of mockingbird found on Galapagos Islands all resemble another species found on the mainland.
The Fossil Record Fossils: preserved remnants or impressions left by organisms that lived in the past.
Are often found in sedimentary rocks.
Fossil Evidence
Fossil record: ordered sequence of fossils as they appear in rock layers.
Reveals the appearance of organisms in a historical sequence. Contains transitional forms that link past and present.
Equus Merychippus 1 toe Hyracotherium (Eohippus) 4 toes Mesohippus 3 toes 3 toes
Horse ancestor 55
Humans and Apes Share a Common Ancestor The same lines of evidence that support common descent can be used to look for the closest relatives of humans. Are humans related to apes?
Kingdom (Animalia)
Phylum (Chordata)
Class (Mammalia)
Order (Primates)
Family (Hominidae)
Genus (Homo)
Squirrel monkey
Orangutan
Gorilla
Common chimpanzee
Bonobo
Human
increase in size of genital structures delayed sexual maturity broad incisors shortened canine teeth enlarged brow ridges elongated skull reduced hairiness large brain no tail more erect posture increased flexibility of thumb
Mammal ancestor
DNA Similarities The DNA sequences of humans and great apes are highly similar
Gorilla 98.90%
Chimpanzee 99.01%
Human 99.9%
Anatomical Differences between Humans & Chimps Differences in the mode of locomotion explain many of the skeletal differences between humans and chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee Human Foramen magnum Base of skull
Back of skull
Larger arms
Larger legs
Biogeography and Fossil Evidence Darwin predicted that fossils of early human ancestors would be found in Africa, the home of modern great apes.
Early hominin fossils such as Lucy provide evidence that the earliest human ancestors arose in Africa.
Trends in Human Evolution from the Fossil Record Larger brains Flatter face
Age of fossil as Ancient hominin determined by radiometric dating 3.5 (million years ago)
Evolution Unites All of Biology Evolutionary theory impacts all aspects of modern biology. Important to understand it because it helps scientists grapple with modern issues.
Identifying function of human genes