Evolution
The process of change over time
Change in the frequency of a gene or allele in a population’s gene pool over time
Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection Steps
Overproduction
Variation
Competition
Selection
Overproduction
Each species produces more offspring then can survive
Variation
Each individual has a unique combination of inherited traits
Adaptation
an inherited trait that increases an organisms chances of survival
Why is Variation Important?
More variation within a species = increased survival
Ex: if everyone is the same, they are all vulnerable to the same environmental changes or diseases.
Competition
individuals compete for limited resources
Food, water, mates
Natural selection occurs through “Survival of the Fittest
Not all individuals survive to adulthood.
Fitness
the ability to reproduce
Selection
The individuals with the best traits/adaptations will survive and have the opportunity to pass its traits to offsprin__g__.
Individuals with traits that are not well suited to their environment either die or leave few offspring
Evolution occurs when good traits build up in a population over many generations and bad traits are eliminated by the death of individuals.
Natural Selection acts on
phenotype frequencies (changes the frequency of the allele in the population)
Non-random mating/Sexual selection
organisms chose a mate based on desired traits
Immigration or Emmigration
individuals enter the population and produce new genes
Mutations
produce new alleles that result in a new phenotype. May provide an advantage.
Genetic Drit
changes due to random events
Population
a group of individuals of the same specifies that mate and produce offspring
Gene Pools
all genes and the alleles for those genes present in a populations
Allele Frequency
the number of times an allele occurs in a gene compared to the total number of alleles in that pool for the same gene
Genetic Bottleneck
A change in allele frequency following a dramatic reduction in the size of a population
Could result from disease, rapid climate, or environmental change.
Can reduce a population’s genetic diversity.
Founder Effect
When allele frequencies change as a result of the migration of a small subgroup of a population.
Creates a new gene pool that could be different from the parent population.
Descent with Modification
Each living species has descended, with changes, from other species over time
Common descent
all living organisms are related to each other.
Evidence of Evolution
Fossil records
Homologous body structure
Vestigial organs
Embryology
Biochemical evidence
Direct Observation
Fossils
a record of the history of life on Earth
Homologous Body Structures
similar anatomy structures in different types of animals because of a common ancestor
Differences:
Function
Vestigial Organs
“leftover” traces of evolution that serve no purpose
ex: wings on flightless burds, pelvin bone of a snake
Embryolgy
embryos of all vertebrates are very similar early on
Biochemistry
When comparing the DNA of one species to another, more similarities are found in species that are more closely related
Ex: Humans and chimpanzees share more than 98% of identical DNA sequences
Direct Observation
Direct observation: species change
Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics
Wolves were bred over many generations to become dogs (artificial selection)
Species
A population whose members can interbreed & produce viable, fertile offspring
Distinct Species
songs & behaviors are different enough to prevent interbreeding
How and why do new species originate?
New species are formed by a series of evolutionary processes which cause reproductive isolation
Reproductive Isolating Mechanisms
Prezygotic Barriers: before reproduction
Postzygotic Barriers: after reproduction
Prezygotic Barriers
An obstacle to meeting or to fertilization if mating occurs
Geographic isolation
Ecological isolation
Temporal isolation
Behavioral isolation
Mechanical isolation
Gametic isolation
Geographic Isolation
New species occur in different areas
Ecological Isolation
Species occur in the same region but occupy different habitats so they rarely encounter each other
Temporal Isolation
Species breed during different times of day, different seasons, or different years and cannot mix gametes
Behavioral Isolation
Unique behavioral patterns & rituals isolate species
Identifies members of species
Attract mates of the same species (courtship rituals, mating calls)
Mechanical Isolation
Morphological differences can prevent successful mating
Gametic Isolation
The sperm of one species may not be able to fertilize eggs of other species
Biochemical barrier: sperm cannot penetrate egg
Chemical Incompatibility: sperm cannot survive in female reproductive tract
Postzygotic Barriers
Prevent hybrid offspring from developing into a viable, fertile adult
Reduced hybrid viability
Genes of different parent species may interact & impair the hybrid's development
Reduced Hybrid Fertility
Even if hybrids are vigorous they may be sterile
Chromosomes of parents may differ in number or structure & meiosis\hybrids may fail to produce normal gametes
Hybrid Breakdown
Hybrids may be fertile & viable in the first generation, but when they mate offspring are feeble or sterile
Allopatric Speciation
A physical barrier arises and prevents gene flow between populations.
Reproductive isolating mechanisms evolve in the genetically diverging populations
Speciation occurs when the members of the divergent populations can no longer interbreed
Sympatric Speciation
New species form within the same home range of an existing species (no physical barrier)
May be:
Temporal
Mechanical
Behavioral
Parapatric Speciation
Daughter species form a small proportion of individuals along a common border between 2 populations
The hybrid zone is formed