LEC 19 Flashcards
Evidence Supporting Evolution
Theory of Evolution
- Scientific evidence indicates all living organisms on Earth are related
2.Believed that life descended from a single, simple, life-form that existed approximately 3 billion years ago
___________ of life is thought to be a result of __________
- Diversity
- evolution
Evolution three key elements
- Descent over time
- Modification
- Unpredictable and natural
Descent over time
slow change in populations over generations that makes them different from their ancestors
Modification
change in phenotype of a species related to changes to the genes of an organism (mutation) or the reshuffling of genes through meiosis
Unpredictable and natural
affected by chance, natural selection, historical events and changing environments
Evidence for Evolution (3)
- Fossils & fossil record
- Comparative anatomy, embryology & biochemistry
- Biogeography
Theory of evolution was first proposed in the mid-1800’s by _________ ___________.
Based on _________ and evidence collected and never been any credible evidence to disprove the theory.
- Charles
- Darwin
- observation
Evidence: Fossils
Preserved remains of organisms
Evidence: Fossils Process (2)
- Occurs when remnants are covered sooner after death with layers of sediment & volcanic ash
- Overtime they become mineralized and leave rock like impressions of hard tissues (bones, teeth etc.)
Evidence: Fossils Details (5)
Have fossils for over 200,000 species
Many organisms we will never have information for because no hard tissues
Richest source of information but tends to be incomplete
Determine age by radiometric dating (either K+ or C-14)
Can observe or compare changes over time in an organism
When different organisms share similar anatomical features it is usually because they came from ___________ ancestor.
common
Evidence can compare: (3)
Anatomical structures
Development of embryos
Biochemical molecules
anatomical structure types (3)
Homologous
Analogous
Vestigial
Homologous structures
Body structures that share a common ancestor
Homologous structures example
Analogous structures
Structures that serve the same function but do not arise from a common ancestor
Analogous structures example
bird and insect wing – both used for flight, however, no physiological similarities exist
Vestigial structures
Structures that serve little or no function in an organism
Maybe homologous to body parts in other organisms
Vestigial structures examples
Human tailbone (coccyx) is vestigial remains of a tail
Human appendix was once larger and had more absorption capability. Only has immune functions now.
Muscles for wiggling our ears
Wisdom teeth
Evidence: Comparative Embryology
Comparing embryos of animals
Early embryonic development is similar among vertebrates
All vertebrates develop: (3)
- Notochord – becomes the core of the intervertebral discs
- Somites – series of folds that become bone, muscle & skin
- Gill or Pharyngeal arches – become either gills or part of face, middle ear & mouth
Comparative Biochemistry
- Examines similarities between proteins and genes of different species
- When two species possess identical or nearly identical biochemical molecules, common ancestry may be indicated
- The greater the difference, the further back the divergence is likely to have occurred
Evidence: Biogeography
Study of the distribution of plants and animals around the world