Evolution
Darwin’s Theory of
Natural Selection
MAIN IDEA: Charles Darwin
developed a theory of evolution based
on natural selection.
Why was Darwin’s work
controversial?
Evolution vs. Creationism
Creationism – belief that God
created all living things to be unique
Evolution – theory that organisms
have changed over time.
Until the 1800s
People thought the same types of
organisms on earth were always in
existence
This changed when scientists found
fossils of organisms no longer on
earth
What made Darwin question
previous assumptions on how
different organisms came to be?
Scientists observed…
Fossil evidence
Many different species
Variations (differences) within
species
Change in Thought
Scientists began to wonder how and
why these changes took place
2 biologists believed organisms
changed in response to their
environments:
French Jean Baptiste Lamarck
British Charles Darwin
Lamarck’s Theory
1809 – Lamarck proposed his theory
of evolution
Theory based on 2 hypotheses:
Organisms develop traits by the use
and disuse of body parts
Acquired characteristics – passed from
parents to offspring
According to Lamarck, why do
giraffes have long necks?
Lamarck’s giraffe example
Lamarck assumed giraffes had short necks
originally and ate grass
Grass died due to climate change
Giraffes ate leaves off trees
As giraffes stretched necks, necks grew
Giraffe’s acquired long necks – passed to
future generations
Scientists questioned this theory…
Darwin’s Studies
Observed thousands of different
species
Took careful notes
Collected specimens
Studies fossils
Artificial vs. Natural Selection
Artificial - breeding for desired traits
Natural – naturally “desired” traits are
bred more often – causes gradual change
in species over time (evolution)
Darwin’s Theory
Published book: On the Origin of Species
by Means of Natural Selection with help
from another scientist, Alfred Russel
Wallace
Theory based on 4 main ideas:
Variations
Inheritance of traits
Overproduction
Survival of the fittest
Variations
Variations (differences) occur among
members of the same species
Ex: different breeds of dogs, horses, cats,
etc.
Inheritance of Variations
Traits are inherited
Overproduction
Organisms produce more organisms than
can survive and reproduce
This ensures that some offspring will
survive to reproduce
Ex: fish, insects, frogs, etc.
Survival of the Fittest
Organisms with traits that are better for
adapting survive to reproduce
Pass on these useful traits
Natural selection – environment
determines which variations will be
selected
Evidence of Evolution
Fossils
Anatomy
Embryos
Molecules
Biogeography
Fossil Evidence
Show extinct species
Show relationships between current and
ancient organisms
Show intermediate species – those in
between ancient and modern species
Difference in traits – derived vs.
ancestral
Anatomical Evidence
Similar structures found in closely related
species; have common ancestor
Diverse vertebrates have similar limb
structures, but may not have same function
–homologous
Vestigial structures – structures not
currently used by organism; evidence of an
organism’s evolutionary past Ex: hind
limbs of dolphins/whales
Homologous Structures
Homologous vs. Analogous
Remember, homologous – similar
STRUCTURE
Analogous – structures with similar
FUNCTIONS, but different
structures/origins
Ex: bat’s wing and bird’s wing -
analogous
Evidence in Embryos
Pattern of meiosis (gametes) fertilization
mitosis (adults)
All vertebrate embryos have homologous
structures that may not be in adults:
Tails (most adults keep their tails!)
Limb buds – become limbs
Vertebrates have a common ancestor
Molecular Evidence
DNA:
Basic genetic code for each species
Ex: humans all have same basic genetic
code
Species that are similar have many
similarities in their DNA
Species with a more distant ancestor have
more differences in DNA
Molecular Evidence
Proteins:
Because of similar DNA, organisms of
the same species have the same basic
proteins
Similar species – similar amino acid
sequences in their proteins
Biogeography
Study of distribution of organisms on
earth
Similar environments lead to similar
adaptations in organisms, even if far
apart
Adaptations
Traits that allow for survival
Fitness – way to measure how effective
traits are
Examples of adaptations:
Camouflage
Mimicry
