Upload
clemence-caldwell
View
220
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Evolution – A Definition (or three)
• Variation of inherited traits within a population over time as a consequence of mutation, genetic recombination, or gene flow
• Descent with modification• Change over time
Evolution helps explain…
• The diversity of life on Earth• How new species are formed• Why organisms look and behave
the way they do• How organisms respond to
changes in their environment• Why some groups of organisms
are more diverse than others
• Mutation – Random changes in DNA sequence
• Natural selection• Genetic Drift – Change in
gene pool due to chance• Gene Flow – Change in
allele frequency due to migration
Forces That Drive Evolution
Applied Evolution
Using an understanding of the principles of evolution to solve real-life
problems and challenges, make improvements to the world around us,
or improve our everyday lives.
Applied Evolution – Medicine and Health
• Combating infectious diseases
• Developing new vaccines• Understanding and
overcoming antibiotic resistance
• Developing new drugs and medicines
Applied Evolution – Medicine and Health
• Case study examining lactose intolerance
• Addresses evolution/natural selection, genetics/inheritance, biochemistry, medicine, nutrition, agriculture, anthropology
“When Milk Makes You Sick”http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/tp.milk3.html
Applied Evolution – Conservation Biology
• Understanding extinction patterns
• Predicting future extinctions and extinction risks
• Developing strategies to protect endangered species
Applied Evolution – Conservation Biology
• Case study examining illegal whaling activity
• Involves evolution/phylogenetic trees, DNA sequencing/barcoding, conservation biology, forensics
“Mystery Meat”www.paleobio.org/MysteryMeat/MysteryMeat-Teacher.pdf
Kujira in a Japanese market
Applied Evolution – Conservation Biology“Mystery Meat”
www.paleobio.org/MysteryMeat/MysteryMeat-Unknowns.html
Applied Evolution – Conservation Biology“Mystery Meat”
www.paleobio.org/MysteryMeat/MysteryMeat-Unknowns.html
Applied Evolution – Conservation Biology“Mystery Meat”
www.paleobio.org/MysteryMeat/MysteryMeat-Unknowns.html
Applied Evolution – Forensic Science
Simon Howden
• Analyzing and characterizing evidence
• Using phylogenetic approaches to establish guilt or innocence
Applied Evolution - Agriculture
• Improving strategies for crop rotation
• Refining selective breeding processes
• Developing new pesticides
Applied Evolution – Computers and Technology
Simon Howden
• Developing new programs and systems
• Software engineering• “Competitive software”,
evolutionary genetic algorithms (software that is improved via small, sequential mutations