OCTOBER 16, 2014 Objective:

Describe Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

Predict how species will evolve over time based on given environmental conditions

Journal: What does it mean to evolve?

EVOLUTION

I. JEAN BAPTISTE DE LAMARCK (1744-1829)A. 1st to propose that organisms change

over time (1809)B. The way they changed was because of

use and disuse

C. Theory of acquired characteristics1. organisms acquire traits during their lifetime2. traits you acquire could be passed on to offspring

D. Believed organisms evolved toward perfection

E. LAMARCK WAS WRONG IN HOW EVOLUTION OCCURS

II. CHARLES DARWIN: THE FATHER OF EVOLUTION

A. Darwin was NOT the first person to propose evolution…

B. He did propose a way evolution happens called Natural Selection

C. Darwin’s ideas began during his voyage on the HMS Beagle where he collected and studied animals

D. Upon his return to England, Darwin spent over 20 years analyzing his findings and working on his theory of HOW evolution occurs1. Proposed Natural Selection2. 1859 – Darwin publishes “The Origin of Species”

III. IMPORTANT VOCABULARY

A. THEORY1. It is NOT a careless suggestion or

reason why things may have happened

2. It IS a well-supported, testable explanation of phenomena that occur in the natural world

3. What began as hypothesis of how life has changed over time is now supported by a huge body of EVIDENCE

B. POPULATION1. Group of individuals of the same

species all living in the same area2. Example: All of the black bears in NJ

C. FITNESS1. The ability of an organism to survive

and reproduce

IV. DARWIN’S THEORY OF EVOLUTION BY NATURAL SELECTION

A. In the wild, each individual organism’s life goal is to be able to survive long enough to reproduce and pass on their genes.

B. Individuals that are best suited to their environment are more likely to have babies with the same beneficial traits as they do. Therefore, over time that trait will become more common in the population A. This is known as natural selection

V. IN ORDER FOR NATURAL SELECTION TO OCCUR THERE MUST BE…

A. Overproduction: There must be more individuals born that can survive.

V. IN ORDER FOR NATURAL SELECTION TO OCCUR THERE MUST BE…

2. Variation Among Offspring: Differences between individuals that can be selected for or against depending on the environment.

V. IN ORDER FOR NATURAL SELECTION TO OCCUR THERE MUST BE…

3. A struggle to survive

VI. NATURAL SELECTION: “SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST”

1. Those that survive are the most fit (able to survive and reproduce)

2. Fitness is the result of adaptations – inherited characteristics that increase an organism’s chance of survival

ADAPTATION

VII. DESCENT WITH MODIFICATIONA. Over time, natural selection produces

organisms with different structures

B. Today’s species look different from their ancestors

C. Each species descended with changes over time from a common ancestor

VII. DESCENT WITH MODIFICATIOND. Implies that all living things are related

to one another

E. Therefore there must be a common ancestor

OCTOBER 21, 2014 Objective:

To observe evidence that supports the Theory of Evolution

Journal:Can an individual organism evolve? Why or

Why not?

EVIDENCE FOR EVOLUTION

I. FOSSIL RECORDA. All fossil evidence, taken together, shows

how organisms have changed

II. ANATOMYA. Homologous structures

1. Structures found in different organisms that have same origin and similar anatomy

ANATOMYB. Vestigial structures

1. Organs that are no longer used and reduced in size

2. Examples: Appendix, tail bone (coccyx), muscles of the ears

III. EMBRYOLOGYA. Vertebrate

embryos show similar pattern of development

Why??

IV. GEOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE

A. Organisms in different parts of the world, but with similar environments, have similar traits

V. DNA EVIDENCEA. All living things

share the same basic DNA

B. The more DNA in common, the more closely related 2 things are

Approx. 98.8% of DNA is same in humans and chimps