GROUP 6
Member:
Jolina Lavalle
Camelle S. Dalida
Sharamelit Labaniego
Jusua M. Natabio
Chapter 6: Evolution
Learning Outcomes
1) Describe the evidence of evolution such as homology DNA/protein sequences, plate
tectonics, fossil record embryology, and artificial selection/ agriculture.
2) Explain how population of organisms have changed and continue to change over time
showing patterns of descent with modification from common ancestors to produce the
diversity observed today.
3) Describe how the present system is classification of organisms is based on evolutionary
relationships.
Evolution is the gradual change in species over many generations resulting from their
genetic adaptation to the environment.
Who we ARE and who we WERE ( Based on the theory of evolution)
(A)
(B)
Evidence of evolution
1) Fossils
A fossil is the remain or evidence of a living thing. The most common fossils are
bones, skulls, and seeds of pollen grains. Most fossils are formed when the whole or
part of an organism becomes buried in sedimentary rocks, which provide the most
important evidence about the evolution of plants and animals. Petrified fossils are
formed through petrification. Imprints are formed when soft body structures such as
feathers and leaves leave impressions in soft sediments such as mud. Molds and cast as
are formed with the same shape as the original organisms.
Science determine the absolute of rocks and fossils by using radioactive dating
techniques.
2) Embryological Evidence
The growth and development of an embryo is controlled by its genes. Similarities in
the early stages of embryo development are further evidence that living things have
evolved from earlier living things and they share common ancestry.
3) Homologous Structures
The age of fossils is used to determine by taking note of characteristics of the layers
of the sedimentary rocks in which the fossils are found. Similarities in the shape and
arrangement of bones show they evolved from the same ancestors. Analogous
structures also determine through anatomy.
4) DNA and Protein sequence are the chemical evidence, which shows that two or more
organism are closely related when they have similar sequence of DNA molecules. The
same is true with the specific structure of protein.
Variation in protein structure of one group as it evolves into another group show
relationship in organisms.
5) Vestigial Structures
A vestigial structure is a body part that is reduced in size and does not seem to have
a function. Example is the tiny leg bones of snakes which suggest that they evolved
from an ancestor that had legs.
B. Theories of Evolution
1) Theory of acquired Traits
Jane Baptists de Lamarck, in 1809, observed that fossils of invertebrates bore certain
similarities with modern invertebrates.
This theory can be summarized into:
1. Organisms desire to improve themselves and become more advanced.
2. The effort to improve causes some body structures to be constantly used, other ate not
used. The frequently used body structures develop, while unused structure weaken and
eventually disappear. This is known as the principle of use and disuse.
3. Modifications of structures due to use or disuse are inherited by the offspring. This is
called the principle of inheritance of acquired characteristics.
2. The Theory of Natural Selection
Charles Robert Darwin ( 1809-1822 ) is credited with developing the theory of natural
selection, or “Survival of the fittest”
Briefly his explanation goes:
1. The number of offsprings is usually greater than the available resources necessary for
survival.
2. Every organism must struggle to survive.
3. Some variations allow members to survive and reproduce better than others.
4. Organisms that survive and reproduce pass their traits to their offspring and helpful
traits gradually appear in more and more. These variations enable them to “fit” into
their environment and those who lack these are eliminated.
C. How Populations of Organisms Change Through Time
After knowing the evidences experimented by scientists to prove that evolution has
occurred, you are now ready to identify some factors that bring about changes in species
through time.
Factors that bring about organismal diversity:
1. Mutation
Changes in the chromosomes of organisms that are heritable and are permanent are
called mutations or chromosomal aberration. These mutations could be changes in
quantity or quality. Mutations are responsible for the evolution of a group of organisms,
for it is transferred from one generation to another. Example include albinism, sickle cell
anemia, Roven's syndrome, cystic fibrosis and others.
2. Genetic Drift
Genetic Drift is evolution by change. It refers to an increase or decrease in the relative
abundance of different cells through successive generations, simply by chance. It is a
random fluctuation in allales frequencies over time. Generally traits that get established
in a population are those that are beneficial. However, some traits manage to get
established and stay by chance since they are not harmful to the organisms.
3. Gene flow
A change in allele frequencies due to immigration ( new individuals enter the
population ) or emigration ( some individuals leave ). Gene flow among organisms is
based on the physical dispersal of allales, and tends to decrease divergence that might
arise through other evolutionary factors.
4. Natural Selection
In any population, more offsprings tend to be productive than can survive to
reproductive age. Members of the population vary in form and behavior. Some heritable
traits are more adaptive than others, they improve chances of surviving and reproducing
under prevailing environmental conditions.
5. Speciation
A new species is formed when the individuals of a population continues to breed
among themselves over a long period of time and eventually accumulate a new set of
traits unique to them. Set traits are already different from those of the original species.
This is how a new species evolves from an older one.
6. Adaptation
Adaptation refers to the process whereby a species is able to tolerate the
environmental conditions of a place and efficiently complete with other species. If
environmental conditions would change drastically, only those species that possess
Adaptations to new conditions will survive. Those that are not adapted will perish and
their distribution will be limited to that place.
D. Classifying Organisms Based on Evolutionary Relationships
Modern classification started with the work of Carolus Linneous in classifying all known
and unknown organisms according to the greater or lesser extent of their similarities.
The limean system of classification divided all living things into kingdom such as plant and
animal kingdom. Within each kingdom, the organisms are divided into phyla and every class
phylum is made up of several classes and each has several orders. Within each order are
families such family divided into genus and further into species.
The hierarchical system of classifying Organisms is significant for an easy and systematic
way of finding a category where an organism belongs and how it relates to others. A close look
at the different levels of classification will reveal that as we go down the scale from kingdom to
species, one can find that resemblance between organisms becomes much closer.
Classifying organisms does not only show the relationship of organisms, but also used to
trace the possible origin of organisms and the development of their present forms. Taxonomy
goes beyond naming and classifying organisms to clarify new methods and theories to explain
the mechanisms of evolution. The principle behind the evolutionary states that similarities
among organisms are due to common descent, or inheritance from a common ancestor.