Evolution

Evolution

Heritable change in characteristics of a population over generations.

Microevolution

Small-scale changes in allele frequencies within a population.

Macroevolution

Large-scale formation of new species.

Species

Group of organisms that share a distinctive form.

Population

Members of the same species in the same area that can interbreed.

John Ray (1600s)

Developed an early classification system, introduced the species concept.

Carl Linnaeus

Expanded Ray’s work, created binomial nomenclature (e.g., Homo sapiens).

George Buffon (1700s)

Suggested species change over time.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

Proposed species evolve by adapting to their environment over generations.

Lamarck's Theory (Incorrect)

Organisms change behavior in response to environment; traits modify and are passed to offspring.

Natural Selection

Theory developed by Charles Darwin, where individuals with favorable traits survive and reproduce.

Genetic Variation

Source of adaptation and survival, arising from random mutations, recombination, and random mating.

Selective Breeding (Artificial Selection)

Humans select desirable traits in domesticated species, differing from natural selection.

Biogeography

Study of species distribution, showing how isolated regions evolve unique species.

Convergent Evolution

Unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environments, resulting in analogous structures.

Homology (Common Ancestry)

Shared anatomical, developmental, or molecular traits indicating common ancestry.

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Transfer of genes between organisms, not inherited from parents, significant in bacteria.

Vestigial structures

No function but resemble ancestral traits.

Orthologs

Same gene found in different species.

Paralogs

Gene duplications that occur within the same species.