Evidence of evolution
Theory of evolution suggests that life on Earth began from a common ancestor. The
common ancestor developed into different species over a very long period of time.
Fossils(化石)
Type of fossils
1. Body fossils
-include body parts of organisms such as bones, teeth. They provide us with
information on the existence of ancient organisms
2. Trace fossils
-include structures caused by the activity of organisms such as footprint. They
provide us with the information on the activities of ancient organisms
Formation of fossils (fossilization)
1. When organisms died, their soft parts decay and their hard parts were left on the
ground. The skeleton might be rapidly buried in mud and sand.
2. After millions of years, the mud and sand become rock due to great pressure and
temperature from the upper layers of sediment. Minerals from the environment
begin to deposit in the organism skeleton and turn into a fossil.
3. Due to the earth movement raises the rock above water and exposes the fossils.
Evidence for evolution?
Fossil records (化石紀錄)
-indicates that a developmental change from simple prokaryotic organisms to complex
eukaryotic organisms
• The earliest fossils in the lowest
layer were composed of organisms of
very simple structures
• The latest fossils on the uppermost
layer were composed of rather
complex structures
Limitation of the fossils record (missing link)
1. Inability to form fossils
-bodies of dead organisms maybe eaten by other organisms or may decay before
buried in mud and sand
-soft-bodied organisms may not fossilize
2. Inability to find a complete set of fossils
-some fossils are located in inaccessible area
-most fossils are incomplete and may be damaged
Other evidence for evolution
Homologous structure
-some structure of different species may look very different and perform different functions,
but their designs are basically the same. Indicates a common ancestor as an origin.
Amino acid and DNA base sequence
-as different proteins consists of different numbers, types and sequences of amnio acid, which
are determine by the genetic code in DNA. If mutation occurs, may lead to variation in
protein structure
-the fewer the differences in the amino acid or DNA base sequence in the same type of
protein, the fewer the mutations occurred and the closer phylogenetic relationship between
the species
Evolution tree
Mechanism of evolution
Lamarck’s theory
-environmental changed created needs that caused organisms to modify their existing
structures. Those structure with repeatedly used would become well develop and those not
used will degenerate
-acquired characters would be passed on to later generations
1. During drought the ancestral short-necked giraffes stretched their necks to feed on the
leaves high up the trees
2. The repeated stretching of their necks caused them to become longer. This acquired
character could be passed to their offspring. Their offspring inherited this character
and continued to stretch their necks
3. Over many generations, the accumulated effect of continued stretching produced them
with super long necks
Failure of Lamarck’s theory
-a mice with cut tails was fertilized, and found that mice of each generation were born with
complete which shows that acquired characters were not passed on to later generations
Darwin’s theory
Natural selection
Observation 1:
-organisms are able to produce large numbers of offspring, but the population remains fairly
stable
Deduction 1:
-many organisms fail to survive and reproduce due to competition for limited resources.
There is a struggle for existence
Observation 2:
-there is variation among individuals of the same species
Deduction 2:
-individuals with favourable characters are better adapted to the environment. They have a
higher chance of survival than the others. This in knows as survival for the fittest
Observation 3:
-Some favourable characters are passed on to offspring
Deduction 3:
-the better adapted individuals survive and reproduce and pass their favourable characters to
their offspring. Accumulation of those characters over many generations caused evolution
1. Ancestor of giraffes had variations of long necks and shorts necks
2. During drought, the long-necked giraffes were more favourable to the change of
environment and easily eat the leaves high on the trees. While the short-necked cannot
and died
3. Natured selected the long-necked variation. They can survive and reproduce and pass
the favourable characters to their offspring. Eventually, the long-necked giraffes
predominated in population
Example of natural selection
Peppered moths
1. Before industrialization the white peppered moths on light-coloured tree trunks were
hard to see. The black peppered moths were easily seen and eaten by birds.
2. During industrialization, the tree trunks were darkened by smoke and soot released
from factories. The white peppered moths became easier for birds to see and while the
black peppered moths were well hidden. In such an environment, the black peppered
moths had a higher chance of survival and reproduction.
3. The black peppered moths produced more offspring. As a result, more black peppered
moths were present in polluted areas.
Insecticide-resistant insect pets
1. In a mosquito population, genetic variations exist among individuals in their
resistance to DDT. Most are non-resistant to DDT but few are resistant to it.
2. DDT kills most non-resistant mosquitoes. The resistant mosquitoes have a higher
chance of survival and reproduction.
3. With the repeated use of DDT, the proportion of DDT-resistant mosquitoes increases
in subsequent generations. As a result, DDT becomes less effective in killing
mosquitoes.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria
1. In a population of bacteria, genetic variations exist among individuals in their
resistance to a certain antibiotic. Most are non-resistant to the antibiotic but few are
resistant to it.
2. When the antibiotic is used, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria have a higher chance of
survival and reproduction.
3. With the indiscriminate use of the antibiotic, the proportion of the resistant bacteria
increases in subsequent generations.
Speciation
1. For a new species to form, different groups of a population must be isolated so that
they cannot interbreed and there is no gene flow
2. Mutations can take place within different groups to produce different genetic
variations
3. Natural selection acts on them in different ways
4. As the environment keep changing, different genetic variations will be selected, and
those isolated group can no longer produce fertile offspring and become two different
species
Geographic isolation
Ecological isolation
-two group of populations are present in the same habitat, they live in different site and
cannot interbreed
Reproductive isolation
-different breeding seasons
-courtship behaviour
-non-correspondence of reproductive organs
Hybrid sterility
-horse + donkey àmule which is sterile