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3.1 General Evolution

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Nondumiso Ndlovu
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15 views

3.1 General Evolution

Uploaded by

Nondumiso Ndlovu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 13

EVOLUTION

Definition:
All things we see today arose from things that existed in the
past which went through a sequence of events over a long
period of time
HYPOTHESIS:
A possible solution to a problem
THEORY:
An explanation supported by facts, generalisations, tested
hypothesis, models and laws
CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom

Monera Portista Fungi Plantae Animalia


- Each of these KINGDOMS are classified into following
groups:
- PHYLUM
- CLASS
- ORDER
- FAMILY
- GENUS
- SPECIES

Sources of Variation within a Species:


1. Mutation
2. Crossing over
3. Random arrangement of chromosomes
4. Random fertilisation of gametes
5. Random mating

Continuous & Discontinuous Variation


CONTINUOUS:
- Continuous Variation caused by polygenic inheritance,
many genes working together
- No distinct categories, have many intermediate types
- Eg: Skin tone, Height, body mass, Shoe size
- A bar graph will show a bell shaped graph
DISCONTINUOUS:
- Discontinuous Variation has no range phenotype, either
you have it or do not have it
- There are distinct categories, no intermediate types
- Eg: Blood group, Rolling of tongue, ear lobes, gender
EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION:
- In general evidence of evolution can be gathered from:
a) Fossil Evidence (Palentology):
- How similar or different we are to African Apes
- Determined using RELATIVE DATING where only an
approximate date can be determined
- Determined using RADIOMETRIC DATING more accurate
whereby scientist determine stage of decay of C14 to N14
- Bear in mind all bodies have C12 and C14

b) Genetic Evidence:
- Identical DNA structure (Sugar, Phosphate, Nitrogenous
base)
- The more similar they are the closely they are related
c) Cultural Evidence:
- Study of tools, weapons, language
- Refers to changes or development in cultures from
simple to more complex way of life
d) Comparative Anatomy Evidence:
- Comparing fore limbs of different Mammals show similar
structure but different functions due to different
environment
- This is called HOMOLOGOUS STRUCTURES
- Fore limbs of all mammals have the same basic plan due
to a common ancestor
- The fore limbs are modified to perform different function
and this is referred to as DIVERGENT EVOLUTION

e) Biogeography Evidence:
- Species found in islands evolved from similar species on
the nearest mainland
- Sometimes species from different ancestors in islands far
away from each other but have similar ecology show
some similarities
- This is due to adaptations to the environment and is
called CONVERGENT EVOLUTION
- Similar structures that have come about by convergent
evolution from different ancestors is called ANALOGOUS
STRUCTURE
IDEAS ABOUT ORIGINS:
- Erasmus Darwin, Jean Baptiste de Lamarck, Charles
Darwin, Alfred Russell Wallace
LAMARCKISM:
Based on 2 laws:
1. Law of Use and Disuse
2. Law of inheritance of acquired characteristics into the
next generation
Lamarckism rejected:
- Organisms evolved due to random changes in response to
environment
- No evidence to support that adaptations were inherited
from parent to offspring
DARWINISM:
Based on 5 observations:
1. Variation - in appearance and abilities in all species
2. Offspring - produce large numbers, not all survive
3. Competition- compete for limited resources
4. Genetics - traits passed on to offsprings
5. Natural selection - most beneficial traits survive

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAMARCKISM AND DARWINISM


LAMARCK DARWIN
1. Individuals in population 1. Change resulted due to
wanted to change environmental factors
2. Population adapting to 2. Population adapting to
environment environment as a result of
natural selection
3. Individuals in population 3. Entire population change
change
4. Inherited from parent to 4. Inherited from parent to
offspring offspring over a period of
time

**************** HOME WORK***********************


PAGE 196, ACTIVITY 10.1
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GRADUALISM AND PUNCTUATED EQUILIBRIUM

Gradualism:

- Darwin’s theory also is called GRADUALISM


- Evolution occurs gradually and uniformly over long periods
of time
- In GRADUALISM the variation is continuous (gradual
change)
Punctuated Equilibrium:

- Theory published by Niel Eldridge and Stephen Jay Gould


- Evolution or change happens suddenly after a long break
or punctuation
- In Punctuated Equilibrium variation is DISCONTINUOUS
(meaning sudden change)

ARTIFICIAL SELECTION / NATURAL SELECTION

Artificial selection / Selective breeding:


- Human element involved in selection
- Breeding of plants/animals for their desirable
characteristics
- Eg: selecting cows which produce large amounts of milk
- Eg: breeding a meaty male sheep with wooly female sheep
Natural selection:
- No human element involved
- Nature selects organisms that is best suited to the
environment
- Eg: Dark coloured moths vs Light coloured moths in
Manchester

SPECIATION:
- Refers to the formation of new species
Species:
Group of similar organisms that are able to interbreed to
produce viable offspring which are able to interbreed

Population:
Organisms of the same species occupying the same habitat at
the same time and having the ability of interbreed.

Types of Speciation:
1. Allopatric Speciation:
Population is separated by a GEOGRAPHICAL BARRIER
(mountain/river)
2. Sympatric Speciation:
Separate species formed when the original species are
prevented from interbreeding due to REPRODUCTIVE
BARRIER
Eg:
a) Habitat Isolation
Eg: closely related snakes, one lives on land and other
lives in water
b) Temporal isolation
Related species whose breeding seasons are different
have low chance of producing viable, fertile offsprings
c) Species specific courtship behaviour
Eg: when related species of ducks make different head
movements during courtship and the other species
does not respond to those movements
d) Different pollinating agents
Eg: some closely related species of plants have
different appearances that attract different insects or
birds (agents) preventing cross pollination
e) Prevention of fertilization
Eg: closely related species having different copulatory
organs (sex organs) result in not being able to fertilise
and produce viable offsprings
f) Hybrid Infertility
In some cases closely related species mate and produce
hybrid infertile offspring
Eg: Donkey + Horse = Mule
Speciation by Geographic isolation (Allopatric)
Examples:
1. Galapagos Finches

2. Galapagos tortoises
3. Baobabs in Africa and Madagascar

4. Proteas in South Africa and Australia

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HOME WORK – Page 211 Activity 10.8

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