Modification as a Result of Evolution & Evolutionary Change

Unity - All life displays a common set of characteristics

Diversity - life has a diversity of form in diverse environments

Evolutionary Change:

Gene → mRNA → Protein

Mutation - a heritable change in the genetic material

Two mechanisms of evolutionary change:

Vertical descent with mutation

• New species evolve from pre-existing species by the accumulation of mutations

• Natural selection takes advantage of beneficial mutations

• Over generations

Horizontal gene transfer

• Less common than vertical gene transfer

• Genes that confer antibiotic resistance are sometimes transferred between different bacteria species

• Between two different species