EVIDENCE FOR EVOLUTION
MICROEVOLUTION VS MACROEVEOLUTION
Microevolution refers to
small-scale changes
within a species or
population over a
relatively short period of
time.
Development of
antibiotic resistance in
bacteria.
Macroevolution, refers to large-scale changes
that occur over extended time periods, such as
the formation of new species and groups.
Whale Evolution
Fossils of early whale ancestors, such as Pakicetus, show transitional features
from land-dwelling mammals to fully aquatic whales.
Microevolution or Macroevolution?
1. Birds evolved from small theropod dinosaurs
like Archaeopteryx. Over millions of years,
traits like feathers, lightweight bones, and
adaptations for flight emerged.
2. During the Industrial Revolution in England,
the environment became darker due to soot.
Dark-colored peppered moths became more
common because they were better
camouflaged from predators.
Microevolution or Macroevolution?
3. Human populations exhibit variation in skin color
due to adaptation to different levels of UV radiation.
For example, populations closer to the equator tend
to have darker skin, while populations in higher
latitudes, where UV radiation is lower, tend to have
lighter skin.
4. Humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor
that lived about 6-7 million years ago. Through speciation
and significant changes in brain size, locomotion, and tool
use, humans evolved from this common ancestor, while
chimpanzees followed a different evolutionary path.
Microevolution or Macroevolution?
3. Human populations exhibit variation in
skin color due to adaptation to different
levels of UV radiation. For example,
populations closer to the equator tend to
have darker skin, while populations in
higher latitudes, where UV radiation is
lower, tend to have lighter skin.
FOSSIL RECORD
The fossil record refers to
the total collection of
fossils discovered and
studied by paleontologists
and geologists. Fossils are
the preserved remains,
impressions, or traces of
ancient organisms or their
activities found in rocks
and sedimentary layers of
the Earth's crust.
A transitional fossil showing
characteristics of both dinosaurs and
birds.
Tiktaalik roseae, a fossil that shows the
transition from fish to amphibians, with
both fins and limb-like structures.
Anatomical Comparison of Organisms
Homologous structures
Homologous
structures are body
parts that are similar in
structure and position
across different
species because they
evolved from a
common ancestor. The forelimbs of humans, cats, whales, and bats,
suggest they evolved from a common tetrapod
ancestor.
Divergent evolution
occurs when two or
more species that share
a common ancestor
evolve and
accumulate
differences, eventually
leading to the
formation of new
species.
Anatomical Comparison of Organisms
Analogous structures
Analogous structures
are body parts that serve
the same function in
different species but
evolved independently,
meaning they do not
share a common The wings of bats and butterflies. Both serve the
ancestor. purpose of flight, but their underlying structures are
completely different.
Convergent evolution
occurs when unrelated
species independently
evolve similar traits
because they live in
similar environments or
face similar selective
pressures.
Instructions: Below are examples of structures from different
organisms. Classify each as Homologous or Analogous.
1. Shark fin vs. Dolphin
flipper
2. Human arm vs. Dog leg
3. Bird wing vs. Bat wing
Anatomical Comparison of Organisms
Vestigial structures are
remnants of organs or The human
features that were fully appendix
functional in the
ancestors of a species
but have lost much or all
of their original function
in the modern Wisdom
descendants Teeth
Snake Leg Bones Pelvic Bones in whales
Wings of flightless birds
Coccyx(Tailbone) in Humans
Embryonic Development Patterns
Embryology is the study of
the development of the
anatomy of an organism to
its adult form.
In the early stages of
development, embryos of
different animals share
striking similarities, which
suggests a common
ancestry.
BIOGEOGRAPHY
The spread and
distribution of
species of organisms
in different
geographical
positions across the
planet is known as Australia’s unique collection of
biogeography. marsupials is an example of how
geographic isolation drives evolution
Charles Darwin's observations of finches on the
Galápagos Islands provide a classic example of
biogeographical evidence for evolution.
Molecular Biology
Like structural homologies,
similarities between biological
molecules can reflect shared
evolutionary ancestry. At the most
basic level, all living organisms
share:
• The same genetic material (DNA)
• The same, or highly similar,
genetic codes
• The same basic process of gene
expression (transcription and
translation)
• The same molecular building
blocks, such as amino acids
SOURCES
Libretexts. (2021, January 3). 8.1A: Evidence of Evolution. Biology LibreTexts.
[Link]
oundless)/08%3A_Microbial_Evolution_Phylogeny_and_Diversity/8.01%3A_Or
igins_of_Life/8.1A%3A_Evidence_of_Evolution
Evidence for evolution (article) | Khan Academy. (n.d.). Khan Academy.
[Link] natural-
selection/a/lines-of-evidence-for-evolution
Evangelista L., General Biology 2, Quezon City: C & E Publishing House, 2018.
Felicerta, [Link], Breaking Through Science Second Edition, C & E Publishing House,
2018.
Fossil record. (n.d.). [Link]
library-fossil-record/