Evolution: History and Basic Concept Evolution
– From the Latin word evolvere (lit. meaning: “to unfold or
unroll”)
– Biological evolution refers to the “inherited change in the
properties of groups of organisms over the course of
generations.” (Futuyama and Kirkpatrick, 2017, pp. 7,
Evolution 4th Edition)
– Described by Charles Darwin as “descent with modification”.
Evidence of Evolution
The Evidences of Evolution
Photo obtained from: bio.libretexts.org
Evidence of Evolution Evidence of Evolution
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Homologous structures: ●
Homologous structures:
anatomical traits that are anatomical traits that are
shared among organisms shared among organisms
that descended from a that descended from a
common ancestor common ancestor
Comparative Anatomy Comparative Anatomy
Photo obtained from: bio.libretexts.org Photo obtained from: bio.libretexts.org
Evidence of Evolution Evidence of Evolution
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Homologous structures: ●
Homologous structures:
anatomical traits that are anatomical traits that are
shared among organisms shared among organisms
that descended from a that descended from a
common ancestor common ancestor
Comparative Anatomy Comparative Embryology
Photo obtained from:
southernsasquatchexpeditionsblog Photo obtained from: nicerweb.com
Evidence of Evolution
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Analogous structures:
structures that performs
the same function but did
not descend from a
common ancestor.
Are these considered homologous?
Photo obtained from: bio.libretexts.org Photo obtained from: bio.libretexts.org
Evidence of Evolution
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Analogous structures: ●
Evolution at the molecular
structures that performs level: changes in the
the same function but did molecular sequence of
not descend from a biological molecules.
common ancestor.
Photo obtained from/owner: Michael Stabentheiner/Audubon Photography
Awards; flickr.com; toadsnfrogs.com Photo obtained from: nicerweb.com
Evidence of Evolution
History of Evolutionary Thought
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Fossil Records: remnants of/or
imprints of the remains of those
organisms who existed in the past. The Pre-1800s
●
Five different examples of Hominin
species. All species shown are
extinct except the modern Humans
(H. sapiens). The discovery and
reconstruction of their features
were based from fossil records.
History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s
Further Comparative Anatomical
Observations (1600s):
– William Harvey (English physician)
discovered about how heart
pumping propels blood
circulation.
– He also studied the blood
circulation in serpents and
fishes, finding the mechanisms
of blood circulation to be similar.
Photo from schoolhistory.co.uk
History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s
Naturalist view and Theological
Perspective (1600s):
– The intricacy of animal structures
lead to believe that God created
all life forms so intelligently.
– William Paley (English clergyman)
– “there cannot be design without
a designer”
Photo from
academicinfluence.com
History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s
Discovery of Fossils and the Discovery of Fossils and the start of
start of Paleontology as a Paleontology as a Science (1666):
Science (1666): – People in the ancient times had no
concept about “fossils”. People
– Nicolas Steno (a Danish were reluctant to believe that
anatomist) dissected a giant living creatures turn into “stones”.
shark caught by fishermen. – They thought these “stones” came
– The teeth of the Giant Shark from the sky or any rock
looks like that of the early formations with amazing shapes.
findings on “Tongue stones”
Photo from evolution.berkeley.edu and blog.madurodive.com Photo from evolution.berkeley.edu and blog.madurodive.com
History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s
Discovery of Fossils and the start
of Paleontology as a Science
(1666):
– Law of Superpositions
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Sequential formation of
sediment layers
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“When the lowest [rock]
stratum was being formed,
none of the upper strata
existed” Photo from Erin DiMaggio, Penn State
Photo from paleontologyworld.com University; smithsonianmag.com
History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s
Carolus Linnaeus (Swedish
scientist, 1707-1798):
– Father of Modern
Taxonomy
– Published Systema Naturae
(1735)
Photo from
www3.nd.edu
Photo from newscientist.com
History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s
Systema Naturae (1735):
– Introduced the binomial
nomenclature system.
– Introduced the system of
classifying organisms
– Based mostly on morphological
relations
– Linnaeus published 12 editions
of the book under his name.
Photo from openlibrary.org
History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte Histoire Naturelle (1749-1788):
de Buffon (French naturalist – Some arguments proposed in the book:
and mathematician, 1707- ●
Biblical history of earth was regarded
1788): with less attention.
– Angered some religious figures of
– Attempted to document the his time.
natural history of his time in ●
Argued against the Preformation
a book called Histoire Theory
Naturelle from 1749 to 1788 – During this time, he also noted the
(Vol. 36 at the time of his similarities between humans and apes
(comparative anatomy)
death)
Photo from larousse.fr Photo from larousse.fr
History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s History of Evolutionary Thought: pre-1800s
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon
Buffon (French naturalist and (French naturalist and mathematician,
mathematician, 1707-1788): 1707-1788):
– He also proposed an argument about
– He also proposed an argument about
Spontaneous origin: living matters Spontaneous origin: living matters arise
arise from non-living, disorganized from non-living, disorganized matters
(mold into existence).
matters.
– When the Earth’s temperature cooled
– When animals migrated into different
down, animals migrated into different
places, and that “organic matters”
places, and that “organic matters”
changed how these organisms are changed how these organisms are
being “mold”, thus varieties in form. being “mold”, thus varieties in form.
Photo from larousse.fr Photo from evolution.berkeley.edu
History of Evolutionary Thought: 1800s
History of Evolutionary Thought
Georges Cuvier (French zoologist, 1769-
1832):
The 1800s – He proved the concept of “extinction” to
be a fact.
– He studied the mammoth fossils and
compared it to extant species of
elephants, concluding that mammoths
are different species from elephants that
have become extinct.
– Extinction was widely not received,
especially from religious believers: How
could God allow such thing to occur?
Photo from sciencephoto.com
History of Evolutionary Thought: 1800s
Georges Cuvier (French zoologist, 1769-
1832):
– He proved the concept of “extinction” to
be a fact.
– He studied the mammoth fossils and
compared it to extant species of
elephants, concluding that mammoths
are different species from elephants that
have become extinct.
– Extinction was widely not received,
especially from religious believers: How
could God allow such thing to occur?
Photo from sciencephoto.com
History of Evolutionary Thought: 1800s History of Evolutionary Thought: 1800s
Overview of the Five Major Mass Extinction Events in Natural
●
History:
End Cretaceous Extinction (65 MYA): 75% of all living species
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
wiped out
– terrestrial/aquatic
(French biologist, 1744-
dinosaurs, all non-avian dinosaurs
1829):
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End Triassic Extinction (200+ MYA): >70% of species
– Ornithosuchus (closely related to crocodiles) – Known for the early
●
End Permian Extinction (250+ MYA): ~80% marine species, ~70% arguments on evolution.
land vertebrates.
– Trilobite (Marine arthropod)
●
Late Devonian Extinction (bet 370 and 360 MYA): ~70% species
– Placoderms (Armored ancient fish)
●
End-Ordovician Extinction (bet 445 to 444 MYA): >80% of marine
species Diagram/Photos: by WD Matthew, 1905; sciencephoto.com;
– Corals,
prehistoricoregon.com; lifebeforethedinosaurs.com Photo from scihi.org
bivalves, echinoderms
History of Evolutionary Thought: 1800s History of Evolutionary Thought: 1800s
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (French Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (French
biologist, 1744-1829): biologist, 1744-1829):
– Use and Disuse: Due to – Simple organisms can
environmental situations, when an
transform into complex ones
organ is repeatedly used, the size
will increase during the organism’s
due to environmental
lifespan. On the contrary, when an adaptation.
organ is not being used, it will – Living organisms are a product
shrink (vestigial). of natural way of change,
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Such change is argued to be rather than those of
inherited by offspring. religious/Biblical origins.
Photo from goprep.co Photo from goprep.co
Theory of Recapitulation
History of Evolutionary Thought: 1800s
”Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny”
Karl von Baer (German This is widely disproven theory
embyologist, 1792-1876): that states all organisms
becomes an adultform of its
– Known as the Father of ancestors during its
Embryology embryonic development.
– Criticized the Theory of
Recapitulation by Ernst
●
One of the points he raised: the
Haeckel (1834-1919, presence of pharyngeal slits in
humans and the gills of adult
German zoologist)
fish resemble one another.
Photo from sciencephoto.com Photo from hiscience.pbworks.com
Theory of Recapitulation Darwinian Theory of Evolution
”Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny”
Charles Darwin
This is widely disproven theory
that states all organisms
Considered as the Father of
becomes an adultform of its
Modern Theory of Evolution
ancestors during its
He conducted various
embryonic development. observations at the Galapagos
Island (Ecuador, South America)
●
One of the points he raised: the
Publication of the Origin of
presence of pharyngeal slits in Species (1859)
humans and the gills of adult – A book that solidifies Darwin’s stance on
fish resemble one another. Natural Selection and how it influence
change in organisms Photo: nationalarchives.gov.uk
Photo from smallcollation
Darwinian Theory of Evolution Example of Natural Selection
Darwin went to a voyage boarding HMS
Beagle There he found that tortoises
posses different traits.
Moreover, he also noted that the finches
have had different forms of beaks.
He noted that these differences are found
in the same organisms but are exposed
to different surroundings, thus,
developing unique variations. This is
basically the foundation of natural
selection. Peppered Moth
Photo: bio-33-lab-manual.webflow.io
Misconceptions about Evolutionary Theory Misconceptions about Evolution
These are false ideas about evolution.
“Evolution is a theory about the origin of life.”
Misconceptions are either from: → The concern of evolution is more on “what happens after
simple evolutionary ideas that accumulated as time goes by life have been conceived”.
deliberate proliferation of misconceptions The changes that organisms go through.
Misconceptions about Evolution Misconceptions about Evolution
“Evolution results in progress; organisms are always
“Evolution results in progress;
getting better through evolution.” organisms are always getting
better through evolution.”
→ Some organisms may undergo change that is not fit for → Example: Peppered moth.
the environment. Existence of two variants: the light
But not the process of natural selection. Adaptation of organisms colored and dark colored moths.
with selection advantage happens due to the fact that they “fit” in
Prior to Industrialization in Britain,
light colored moth has advantage
the environment. over dark colored moths.
Booming industrialization gave dark
colored moths an advantage over
light colored
Misconceptions about Evolution Misconceptions about Evolution
“Individual organisms can evolve during a single
“Evolution only occurs slowly and gradually.”
lifespan.” → Some small scale evolution occurs.
→ Evolution involves “change” of an entire population. Example: the selection of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms
Changes in the genetic make (a random event) up does not See video:
necessarily mean the individual with undergo evolutionary
change.
It happens in many succeeding generation until natural selection “selects”
them as the prevalent variant.
Misconceptions about Evolution
“Humans are not currently evolving.”
→ We do!
Some humans carry genetic variation that render evolutionary or
selection advantage
Example: Delta 32 mutation of the beta chemokine receptor type
5
Technological advancement prevents “selection”
