10.

4 Evidence for Evolution

Spec ref 4.2.2

What is a Scientific Theory?

“A scientific theory is an explanation of an aspect of the natural world

and universe that has been repeatedly tested and corroborated in
accordance with the scientific method.”

Big Bang theory The world actually ended in

2012 when they turned on the
super collider – but no one
noticed
 Who came up with the Theory of Evolution?

Charles Lyell
Alfred Wallace
James Hutton Agreed with Hutton. Charles Darwin
Travelled to the
Challenged the idea Used fossils as proof Loved Lyell’s work – amazon and to
that God formed that animals existed realised that Malaysia to study
the world – said millions of years ago evolution of species the animals there
instead that it was and that they were must be a slow and (especially
the product of quite different to gradual process. beetles).
“natural forces”. modern species Travelled to the Corresponded
(Uniformitarianism) (Principles of Galapagos islands to with Darwin
Geology) study the creatures about their
there. findings
Meanwhile in South America and Malaysia….
July 1st 1858
Presented the Theory of Evolution
1859
• Individuals in a species show a wide
range of variation

• This is caused by a difference in genes

• Characteristics most suited to the

environment are more likely to survive
and reproduce

• Successful genes are more likely to be

passed to their offspring

• Over time and across different

environments, this may lead to the
development of different species
showing entirely different
characteristics from each other
Evidence for Darwin’s Theory

1. Palaeontology

2. Comparative anatomy

3. Comparative biochemistry
1. Palaeontology

What sort of information can we gain from fossils?

https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2011/07/20/ancient-footprints-show
-human-like-walking-began-nearly-four-million-years-ago/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCTKHHfsM7Y
(2min45 -> 19min)
Gigantopithecus blacki was named by anthropologist Ralph von Koenigswald
in 1935 based on two third lower molar teeth, which, he noted, were of
enormous size measuring 20 mm × 22 mm[1]

The specific name blacki is in honour of Canadian palaeoanthropologist

Davidson Black, who had studied human evolution in China and had died the
previous year.
2. Comparative anatomy

Homologous Structure may have different outer appearance, or even

function, but the underlying structure is the same, suggesting a recent
evolutionary relationship.
 Beaks are There must have
We call this
Homologous been a Common
Divergent Evolution
structures ancestor
Can you think of any more homologous structure examples?
3. Comparative biochemistry

Close study of:

- Specific genes or order of bases in DNA

- Amino acid sequence of proteins/enzymes/hormones

- Overall shape of Proteins

(Also metabolic rate in some cases!)

Ernst Haekel

Also:
Comparative
Embryology

“By far the

strongest single
class of facts in
favour of my
theory” - Darwin
Fish Salamander Tortoise Chicken Pig Cow Rabbit Human
1. Fossils provide strong evidence that
organisms have evolved over time.

Describe other types of evidence that

support the theory of evolution.

In your answer you should describe

some different types of evidence.