artificial selection
process in which nature provides the variations and humans select the ones they find useful
natural selection
organisms best adapted to an environment survive and reproduce more than others
four steps to natural selection
overproduction, variation, competition, selection
overproduction
when a species produces more offspring that an environment can support
variation
each individual has different traits
competition
when individuals compete for limited resources; ex: food, water, space, mates
selection
the individual with the best traits will survive
does natural selection act on phenotype or genotype?
phenotype (physical appearance)
evolution
the process by which a species adapt overtime in response to changes in their environment
fossils
preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms
3 types of rocks
sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous
sedimentary rocks
formed by pieces of once-living organisms; where fossils are found
igneous rocks
forms when hot molten rock crystalizes and solidifies
metamorphic rocks
forms by extreme pressure or tempurature
pangea
a supercontinent that incorporated almost all the landmasses on earth
geological time scale
describes/tells earth’s history
law of superposition
closest layer to earth (bottom) is the oldest
embryology
the study of embryos and their development
survival of the fittest
the organisms best adjusted to their environment are most successful in surviving and reproducing
fitness
the ability to survive long enough to reproduce
adaptation
an inherited trait that increases an organism’s chance of surviving
2 types of adaption
camouflage and mimicry
camouflage
when an organism tries to blend in with their surroundings
mimicry
when an organism tries to resemble another organism
why is variation important?
the more variations within a species the more likely it will survive
descent with modification
each living species has descended, with changes, from other species over time
common descent
all living organisms are related to one another
cladogram
a diagram that shows evolutionary relationships among groups
cladistics
form of analysis that looks at features of organisms that are considered “innovations”
james hutton
proposed the idea that forces beneath earth’s surface can push rock layers upward forming mountains; concluded that earth must be older than a few thousand years
deep time (james hutton)
the idea that our planet’s history stretches back over a period of time, so long it’s difficult for the human mind to imagine
charles lyell
presented a way of thinking called uniformitarianism
uniformitarianism
the idea that geological processes we see today must be the same ones that shaped earth millions of years ago
lyell and hutton also relied on there being enough time in earth’s history for the changes to take place
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lamarck hypothesis
proposed the idea that all organisms have the urge to become more complex and perfect; also believed organisms could change the size (and shape) of their organs by using their bodies in new ways
^NOT TRUE (idk if we need to know or not; in slideshow)
jean-baptiste lamarck
one of the first naturalist to suggest species aren’t fixed; recognized there is a link between an organism’s environment and it’s body structure
thomas malthus
reasoned that if the human population grew unchecked, there wouldn’t be enough space or resources for everyone
darwin realized that malthus’ reasoning applied to other organisms also; ex: more offspring die being reaching maturity
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charles darwin
naturalist: an expert of natural history
what theory did darwin come up with?
developed the scientific theory of evolution that explains how modern organisms developed over long periods of time
what was darwin’s job on the beagle?
to collect and observe specimens of plants, animals, rocks and fossils wherever they went
what 3 patterns did darwin observe?
species vary globally
species vary locally
species vary overtime
galapagos island
where the most important observations were made; not only did the islands differ in many ways, the plants and animals did also
how long was the voyage?
5 years
evidence of evolution
fossil record, homologous body structures, analogous structures, vestigial structures, embryology, biochemical evidence
fossil record
fossils: a record of the history of life on earth; provide a record of species that lived long ago; helps show similarities with modern species
be prepared to draw a cladogram
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homologous body structures
similar anatomy in different types of animals because of a common ancestor
analogous structures
same function however not structured the same way
vestigial structures
"leftover traces of evolution that serve no purpose; ex: our appendix (helpful long ago but not anymore)
embryology (evidence of evolution)
embryos of all vertebrates are very similar early on
biochemical evidence
DNA with more similar sequences suggest species are more closely related