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Evolution
The process where significant changes in the inherited traits of a species occur over time
An ongoing process where species adapt to environmental changes, ensuring species’ survival and reproduction
Species
A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce offspring that are reproductively isolated from others and evolve independently
Science and Religion
Science and religion are two different ways of understanding the world and do not need to conflict
Science is based on evidence whereas religion is based on faith
Scientific Process
Ongoing process
Change is expected and accepted
Has to be testable
Based on theories and evidence (facts)
Independently collected
Charles Darwin
Called the father of evolution
Proposed natural selection as the mechanism for evolution
Went on a 5-year trip around the world where he took observations of organisms in South America and the Galapagos Islands
Fossils
Form from buried organism remains through mineralization due to high pressure
Complex organism fossils are found at the shallowest depths in younger rocks
These fossils likely resemble living species
Biogeography
Focuses on geographical distribution of organisms
Includes living species and fossils
Provides evidence for evolution
Ex: Darwin’s finches
Comparative Anatomy
Homologous Structures
Similar structures
Share a common origin
Evolved to perform different functions
Analogous Structures
Features are shared by unrelated organisms
Evolved to perform the same function
Vestigial Features
Structures in an organism that no longer function through evolution
Shows an evolutionary relationship with other living things
Ex: Human tailbone
Comparative Embryology
Shared homologous developmental processes
Comparative Biochemistry
Studies genes and DNA
Traces the process of evolution
Homologous genes exist in similar organisms and provide evidence of a common ancestor
Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection
Process involves organisms better adapted to environment
These organisms survive and reproduce more
4 Principles of Natural Selection
Overproduction
Each species produces more offspring than can survive
Variation
Each individual has a unique set of traits
Greater variation within species increases survival likelihood
Competition
Individuals compete for limited resources (food, water, space, mates)
Fitness: the ability to survive and reproduce
Selection
Individuals with best traits survive and pass traits to offspring
Giraffe’s long neck is a product of sexual selection, not natural selection
Sexual Selection
Selection of traits influences individual’s mating success
Sexually dimorphous traits tend to be favoured (distinct male and female differences)
Intersexual Selection
Female choice is based on colouration, courtship displays, songs, etc
Intrasexual Selection
Male/male competition, e.g. strength to fight other males or defend territory
Artificial Selection
Humans modify species through plant and animal domestication
Domestication has been practiced for thousands of years
Modern dog breeds descended from wolves
Farmers choose best plants for seeds, creating traits beyond natural variability
Breeders can’t create nonexistent traits
Undesirable traits may accompany desirable ones
Selective Pressures
Environmental factors can reduce reproduction
These factors can cause evolutionary change or extinction due to natural selection
Examples:
Competition
Predation
Land clearance
Pollution
Diseases
Climate change
Parasitism
Microevolution
Population undergoes small changes over time
Ex: Bacterial strains gaining antibiotic resistance
Macroevolution
Large evolutionary changes result in new species
Ex: Evolution of bat wings
Factors that cause evolution
Mutations
Changes in individual’s DNA can impact population’s gene pool if heritable
Ex: Norway rat developing resistance to rat poison
Gene flow (Migration)
Net movement of alleles between populations due to individual migration
Ex: A gray wolf from one population mates with a wolf from another population
Non-random mating
Mating based on preferred phenotypes or due to inbreeding
Preferred Phenotypes: mate selection based on physical/behavioral traits
Inbreeding: clos relatives breed together
Genetic Drift
Allele frequencies change due to chance events
Small sample sizes less likely to reflect parent gene pool
Founder Effect
Small group leaves original population, starts new one
New population may differ genotypically and phenotypically from parent population
Ex: Amish populations (limited initial founders and internal marriages)
Bottleneck Effect
Chance event causes significant population or reproduction reduction
Leads to decreased genetic diversity due to population reduction
Ex: Overhunting brought cheetahs near extinction, reducing genetic diversity
Types of Distribution
Stabilized Distribution
Centre phenotypes have highest fitness
Directional Distribution
One phenotypic extreme has highest fitness
Disruptive Distribution
Both phenotypic extremes have highest fitness
Diverging Evolution
Two or more species evolve different traits due to different selective pressures or genetic drift
Converging Evolution
Two unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar selective pressures
Speciation
Isolated populations no longer exchange alleles and become separate species
Allopatric Speciation
Geographically isolated populations become separate species
Sympatric Speciation
Physically connected populations stop exchanging alleles and become separate species
Reproductive Isolated Mechanisms
Must be reproductively isolated
No longer a free exchange of alleles
Prezygotic Mechanisms
Prevent mating or fertilization
Postzygotic Mechanisms
Prevent the development of fertile offspring
Zygote
The cell formed by the union of two gametes in sexual reproduction
Ecological Isolation
Two populations inhabit different geographical locations
Alternatively, they inhabit different places within same ecosystem
Temporal Isolation
Two populations can’t exchange alleles due to differing availability times (yearly or daily)
Behavioural Isolation
Two populations don’t respond to each others’ mating rituals
Mechanical Isolation
A physical barrier that prevents mating or fertilization
Gametic Isolation
Two populations exchange sperm and eggs
Chemical markers prevent eggs from being fertilized by “wrong” sperm
Zygotic Mortality
Zygote is formed, but fails to develop into maturity
Hybrid Inviability
Hybrid is born, but is either short-lived or unhealthy
Hybrid Infertility
Healthy hybrid is born, but unable to reproduce