Natural Selection

Chapter 10
Natural Selection
An Evolving Enemy
Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 10 Section 1
Tuberculosis
Return of an Ancient Killer
10.1 Return of an Ancient Killer
Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) has infected humans for thousands of years

Evidence of TB has been found in Egyptian mummies Hippocrates described a TB-like condition In 1906, TB accounted for 2 out of every 1000 deaths in the U.S.
10.1 Return of an Ancient Killer What is Tuberculosis?

TB is caused by bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
2 billion people carry TB New infections occur at a rate of 1 per second TB causes roughly 2 million deaths per year
Figure 10.1
10.1 Return of an Ancient Killer - What is Tuberculosis?

Symptoms of TB include:
Cough that produces blood Fever Fatigue Period of wasting patient becomes weaker and thinner Led to calling the disease consumption

Consumptive symptoms occur because of damage to lung tissues.
Figure 10.2

Testing is by x-ray of lungs and skin test Transmission of TB occurs through the air, from infected individuals
A single sneeze can contain 40,000 droplets, all containing infectious bacteria
Figure 10.4
10.1 Return of an Ancient Killer Treatment and Treatment Failure

19th and early 20th century treatment consisted of sanitariums Discovery of antibiotics revolutionized TB treatment Since the 1980s, scientists have noticed an increase in TB that is resistant to antibiotics Because of resistance to antibiotics, the number of TB cases worldwide is increasing
Natural Selection Causes Evolution
10.2 Natural Selection Causes Evolution
Darwin discussed two ideas in Origin of Species 1. Common descent 2. Natural selection
Natural selection is considered to be the primary cause of evolution Other factors include genetic drift and sexual selection
Natural selection is an inference based on four observations

1. Individuals within populations vary 2. Some of the variation within individuals can be passed on to their offspring 3. Populations of organisms produce more offspring than will survive 4. Survival and reproduction are not random

1. Individuals within populations vary
This is true of human and non-human populations Variation can include traits other than appearance, such as blooming time in flowers
Figure 10.6
2. Some of the variation within individuals can be passed on to their offspring

Darwin noticed that animal breeders could get exaggerated traits through selective breeding
Figure 10.7
3. Populations of organisms produce more offspring than will survive

Even slow-breeding animals can produce large populations quickly

3. Populations of organisms produce more offspring than will survive
If a female elephant (colored pink) lives a full fertile lifetime, she will bear about six calves in about 90 years. On average, half of her calves will be female. Shelf = Available resources Generation 0 = 2 elephants
Generation 1 = 6 elephants
Figure 10.8

4. Survival and reproduction are not random
Fitness: Relative survival and reproduction of one variant Adaptation: Traits that increase individual fitness in an environment Individuals with adaptations for a particular environment are more likely to survive and reproduce

4. Survival and reproduction are not random
1976 Number of individuals Bill depth
Average bill depth before drought 1978
Average bill depth of drought survivors
Bill depth (mm)

Figure 10.9

Adaptations do not only affect survival Any trait that increases the number of offspring produced is an adaptation
A flowers reproduction is impacted by traits that affect the number of pollinators it receives Therefore, color or nectar production might be adaptations
Figure 10.10
10.2 Natural Selection Causes Evolution Darwins Inference: Natural Selection Causes Evolution
Result of natural selection
Favorable inherited variations tend to increase in frequency Unfavorable variations tend to be lost End result is a change in the traits of individuals in a population over generations (i.e. evolution)
10.2 Natural Selection Causes Evolution Testing Natural Selection

Artificial Selection Selection imposed by human choice
Breeds of pigeons studied by Darwin arose through artificial selection
Breeds of dog have been artificially selected by humans

10.2 Natural Selection Causes Evolution Testing Natural Selection in the Lab
In laboratory, environmental conditions can be manipulated and effects on population examined Example: alcohol in fruit flies
Scientists examined alcohol metabolism in fruit flies All animals have enzymes to metabolize alcohol Variations in ability to metabolize alcohol exist in populations
10.2 Natural Selection Causes Evolution Testing Natural Selection

Natural selection in the lab
Percent of population that metabolized alcohol rapidly
Increase in percent of fast-metabolizing flies
No change in alcohol-metabolizing rate Generation Generation 1 57
After 57 generations, all flies in the high-alcohol environment are fast processors of alcohol. As a result, the average rate of alcohol metabolism is twice the rate of the unmodified population.
Generation Generation 1 57
Fly population in normal laboratory environment
Fly population in a high-alcohol laboratory environment
Figure 10.12
10.2 Natural Selection Causes Evolution Natural Selection in Wild Populations

Many examples exist:
Evolution of resistance of M. tuberculosis to antibiotics Many other disease-causing pathogens have also evolved resistance Galapagos finches provide another classic example
1976 Number of individuals Bill depth
Average bill depth before drought 1978
Average bill depth of drought survivors
Bill depth (mm)

Figure 10.9
Natural Selection Since Darwin
10.3 Natural Selection Since Darwin The Modern Synthesis

The union of genetics and evolution is called the modern synthesis
Knowledge of genetics facilitates understanding of the mechanisms of evolution Alleles are the basis of variation of traits Mutations can create new alleles and provide the basis for new traits Natural selection provides a filter that selects for or against new traits
10.3 Natural Selection Since Darwin The Modern Synthesis

Mutation gives rise to new alleles
Generates raw material for natural selection
Natural selection alters the frequency of alleles within a population over generations Evolution of a population = an increase or decrease in the frequency of an allele of a particular gene
10.3 Natural Selection Since Darwin

Mutation, Natural Selection & Evolution
Figure 10.13

A Closer Look: Subtleties of Natural Selection 1. Natural selection cannot cause new traits to arise
Not an issue of choice or will of organisms Selection can ONLY act on variations that ALREADY exist Mutation creates new alleles RANDOMLY In fly example, alcohol-rich environment did not cause gene to arise, differential survival caused allele to become more common

A Closer Look: Subtleties of Natural Selection 2. Natural selection does not result in perfection
Natural selection does cause organisms to become a better fit to their environment Organisms are not necessarily better, just better fit to a particular situation Adaptation that is beneficial in one situation might be a liability in another Adaptations are trade-offs between better fit in one situation versus another

A Closer Look: Subtleties of Natural Selection
Adaptations are constrained by underlying biology
Result is jury-rigged design Example is pandas thumb Actually grown from wrist bones Not as efficient as opposable thumb
Figure 10.14

A Closer Look: Subtleties of Natural Selection
3. Natural selection does not cause progression towards a goal
Natural selection favors variants with the most appropriate adaptations for current environment Organisms do not choose to change or adapt Natural selection depends on the situation of the population
10.3 Natural Selection Since Darwin Patterns of Selection

Different environmental conditions can lead to different changes in populations
Directional selection change in population traits by favoring one allele over another Stabilizing selection selection for the average traits Diversifying selection selection for extremes
10.3 Natural Selection Since Darwin Directional Selection

(a) Directional selection Number of individuals in the population of each type Number of individuals in the population of each type Not favored by pollinator = low fitness
Preferred by pollinator = high fitness
Population evolves in the direction of a darker pink color.
Color range
Color range
Figure 10.16a
10.3 Natural Selection Since Darwin Stabilizing Selection

(b) Stabilizing selection Number of individuals in the population of each type
Pollinators more likely to visit similar-colored flowers = high fitness Number of individuals in the population of each type
Pale flowers not recognized by pollinators = low fitness
Population stabilizes; nearly all the individuals are same color.
Dark flowers not recognized by pollinators = low fitness Color range
Color range
Figure 10.16b
10.3 Natural Selection Since Darwin Diversifying Selection

(c) Diversifying selection Number of individuals in the population of each type One type of pollinator specializes in pale flowers = high fitness
Number of individuals in the population of each type
Neither pollinator chooses intermediate color = low fitness
Population diversifies into pale variety and dark variety.
Another pollinator specializes in dark flowers = high fitness Color range
Color range
Figure 10.16
Chapter 10 Section 4 Natural Selection and Human Health
10.4 Natural Selection and Human Health Tuberculosis Fits Darwins Observations
Mycobacterium tuberculosis has evolved resistance to antibiotics because it fulfills the same observations Darwin made
Bacteria in the population vary Variation can be passed on to offspring More bacteria are produced than survive Bacterial survival is not random
10.4 Natural Selection and Human Health Selecting for Drug Resistance
Simple antibiotic treatment can result in directional selection in bacteria.
Single drug therapy
1 Start with different variants of M. tuberculosis.
2 Single drug reduces fitness of most variants.
3 Resistant variants proliferate.
Figure 10.17
10.4 Natural Selection and Human Health Stopping Drug Resistance

Continue treatment until infection is completely cured (maybe months) Combination therapy (aka drug cocktail) is a powerful tool against drug resistance.
Figure 10.18
10.4 Natural Selection and Human Health

Can Natural Selection Save Us From Superbugs
If bacteria can evolve resistance to antibiotics, can humans evolve resistance to bacteria?
Humans do vary in their immune capacity To evolve resistance to superbugs would require many humans to die over many generations
By using modern drugs are we allowing the survival of the weakest?


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Chapter 10

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

10.1 Return of an Ancient Killer

Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) has infected humans for thousands of years

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

10.1 Return of an Ancient Killer What is Tuberculosis?

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

10.1 Return of an Ancient Killer - What is Tuberculosis?

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

10.1 Return of an Ancient Killer - What is Tuberculosis?

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

10.1 Return of an Ancient Killer - What is Tuberculosis?

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

10.1 Return of an Ancient Killer Treatment and Treatment Failure

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

10.2 Natural Selection Causes Evolution

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

10.2 Natural Selection Causes Evolution