Evolution

And the Origin of Species

In science, a THEORY explains observations and
helps us make predictions. It can even help us
answer questions, like this one...

Which came first, the

chicken or the egg?
Guiding Question: How did the giraffe get its long neck?

And...why are there 9 subspecies of giraffes?

History of Evolutionary Thought
In 1831, Charles Darwin, a 22-year-old naturalist,
accepted a position aboard the ship HMS Beagle that
began a voyage around the world.

Darwin made observations of

animals that inhabited the island
- a study of BIOGEOGRAPHY

- tortoises
- iguanas
- finches
The Voyage of the Beagle
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection
Finches on the Galápagos Islands
resembled a mainland finch but there
were more types.

Galápagos finch species varied by

nesting site, beak size, and eating
habits.

Darwin proposed that each bird was

descended from the mainland species.

→ COMMON DESCENT
Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace had similar ideas about
how species change over time….Natural Selection

1. Variations exist in populations

2. Inheritance of traits
3. Differential Survival and
Reproduction
4. Adaptation - more individuals
will have that favorable trait

VIDA
Descent with Modification

Each generation will

have more individuals
with those traits than
the previous
generation.

Modern species can

be traced to a
common ancestor.
How does natural selection
explain the finches on the
Galapagos?

Are Finches still evolving

on the islands. Let's
examine a data set from
research on the island of
Daphne Major.

Student
Handout
Data Analysis - I2 Strategy - Finches

What do you
see?

What does it
mean?

Student
Handout
What do you notice about the graph now?
Can you identify variables?

Survivors
Back to Giraffes…

Could the giraffes be following a

similar pattern as the finches on
the Galapagos?

What does that mean?

What would it look like?

Why would that happen?

What data do we need to gather?

Taxonomy is the science of
classifying organisms.

Carolus Linnaeus developed a

binomial system of nomenclature -
two-part names for each species

GENUS SPECIES Giraffe camelopardalis angolensis

(Angolan giraffe)

Homo sapiens Giraffe camelopardalis camelopardalis

(Nubian giraffe)
Canis lupus Giraffe camelopardalis reticulata
(Reticulated giraffe)
Giraffa camelopardalis
Subspecies
Masai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi)

Thornicroft Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti
Biogeography - the study of the distribution of species

A cladogram
shows how
these giraffes
are related.

Why are there so many different subspecies and why in distinct locations?
Are all of these giraffes descended from one common ancestor?

What data would you need to

gather to answer this question?
The Definition of Evolution
Evolution is the change in allele frequencies, or a
change in the gene pool, of a population.

You don’t need to see an

animal change
physically, you only need
to measure changes at
the DNA level.
Important Points These stickleback fish have different
levels of armored scales.
1. Individuals do not evolve. (they
either live or die)

*POPULATIONS EVOLVE*

2. Evolution does not have a

direction. Organisms aren’t “trying”
to be anything.

3. Fitness refers to an organism's

ability to survive in their environment
- it doesn’t necessarily mean
“stronger”
4. Individuals differ in FITNESS (relative fitness)
- fitness measures an organism’s reproductive success
- it does not necessarily mean “stronger”.

A black panther is the

melanistic color variant of any
Panthera species. Black
panthers in Asia and Africa are
leopards (Panthera pardus) and
black panthers in the Americas
are black jaguars (Panthera
onca).
Rock Pocket Mouse - MC1R
Examine the
rock pocket mouse cards and
construct a timeline.
The MC1R gene provides instructions for
making a protein called the melanocortin 1
receptor. This receptor plays an important role
in normal pigmentation. The receptor is
primarily located on the surface of
melanocytes, which are specialized cells that
produce a pigment called melanin.
Rock Pocket Mouse , HHMI
VIDA chart applies to how evolution occurs.

Stickleback Fish Giraffe Rock Pocket Mouse Finches

Variation

Inheritance

Differential
Survival

Adaptation
Selection Strength
How strong does the environment push for the survival or
elimination of a polymorphism?
Examples: White- Striped Clover & Rock Pocket Mouse

Why do both
mice have white
bellies?
Divergent vs Convergent Evolution
Phenotypes
are similar,
though these
organisms are
not closely
related.
What about Giraffes?
What selective pressure may exist to
account for their long legs and neck?

Does natural selection explain so

many subspecies of giraffe?

- Do you need more information?

Review Evolution in 3 steps: The aye-aye survived!??

1. Variation (polymorphisms)
2. Inheritance
3. Differential survival (relative fitness)
4. Adaptation

And the blobfish and naked mole rat??

See “Strange Animals” Boredpanda.com

Evidence of Evolution

1.  The Fossil Record

2.  Anatomy
3.  Embryology 
4.  Biogeography 
5.  Molecular Biology
FOSSIL EVIDENCE
Fossil Record traces the history of life
Shows transitional fossils ….Archaeopteryx
Hominid Species
EVIDENCE: FOSSIL RECORD

Transitional
species show
links between
ancestors
and modern
organisms.
ANATOMICAL EVIDENCE

Homologous
structures 

– similar structures
inherited from a
common ancestor
(ex. Arm bones)
Vestigial Structures
Structures that appear to serve no purpose and are
derived from ancestral populations.
Fossil record indicates
that whales evolved
from land animals.
They retain many of
the features of land
tetrapods, including
vestigial pelvic bones.
In humans ….. The palmaris longus muscle is vestigial

Gill Slit
Embryological
development – all
vertebrates have
the same basic
pattern of
development
BIOGEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCE
How Plants and Animals are distributed worldwide

Why are these

animals only found
in Australia?
Molecular Genetics
Gene sequences are
similar across animal
groups. The more similar
the genes, the more closely
related the organisms.
Gene Sequences can also track changes in populations.

It’s not just animals that evolve.

1. Watch the video →

2. Examine the sequence cards.

3. How do the sequences support

the hypothesis that mutations
accumulate over time?

4. Can you infer when each group

of patients developed Ebola
relative to one another?

5. Why did some mutations not

spread?
Why might some spread faster
than others?
 Liberia’s Ebola
outbreak traced
to one source

Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/liberia%E2%80%99s-ebola-outbreak-largely-traced-one-source
Myths of Evolution
1. Evolution is just a theory
2. Individuals evolve
3. Evolution explains the origin of life
4. Organisms evolve on purpose (or is directional)

What other myths or

questions have you heard
regarding evolution?
18.2 Formation of New Species
Species = individual organisms
that can interbreed and produce
fertile offspring
 Liger Zonkey

Hybrid = cross between two species

= often produce infertile offspring (mules)
Speciation =
formation of
two species
from one
original species
 Allopatric vs Sympatric Speciation
“Other homeland” “Same homeland”

California Salamander Speciation

SYMPATRIC SPECIATION
Sympatric speciation would
occur when members of a
single population develop a
difference without
geographic isolation

Ex. Apple Maggot flies

choosing a particular type of
apple (Sympatric Speciation)

Ex. Mate preference

What type of
speciation is this?
 Hawaiian
Adaptive Radiation Honeycreepers
One ancestral species
branches into many,
each occupying a
different NICHE
Reproductive Isolation - what prevents interbreeding between species?

Prezygotic Barriers Temporal Isolation

(breeding at different times)

- Blocks reproduction
from taking place at all
Habitat Isolation
(living in different places)

Mechanical & Gamete Barriers

(anatomy & egg/sperm problems)

Behavioral Isolation
(mating, courtship behaviors)
Damselfly penis
Post-zygotic barriers

- egg and sperm produce offspring

that don’t survive or are sterile
Hybrids occur when members of
different species produce offspring...

Lion + Tiger =  Liger

Tiger + Lion =  Tigon

Is a hybrid grizzly-polar bear a
“PIZZLY” or a “GROLAR BEAR”
BEEFALO
Rates of Speciation

Slow change,
small steps

Rapid change,
due to a major
environmental
disruption