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GEN-BIO-3-MODULE-4

The document discusses various pieces of evidence for evolution, including fossils, embryology, anatomical evidence, biochemical similarities, and biogeography. It highlights how these evidences support the theory of evolution and the concept of common ancestry among species. Modern scientific advancements continue to enhance our understanding of evolutionary processes and relationships among organisms.

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25 views7 pages

GEN-BIO-3-MODULE-4

The document discusses various pieces of evidence for evolution, including fossils, embryology, anatomical evidence, biochemical similarities, and biogeography. It highlights how these evidences support the theory of evolution and the concept of common ancestry among species. Modern scientific advancements continue to enhance our understanding of evolutionary processes and relationships among organisms.

Uploaded by

Carrera Aron
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
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General Biology 2

Quarter 3: Week 4 - Module 4:


Evidence of Evolution
Lesson
Pieces of Evidence for
1 Evolution
In the previous lessons, it is said that evolution is the process of change in
species over time. Some changes are easily visible. Other changes occur so gradually
through time and are not easily observed.

Darwin’s theory of evolution was eventually recognized when scientists were


able to supply verifications that Darwin himself had been unable to specify. Natural
selection gives us with an outline in understanding the ideologies of evolution.
Darwin’s idea of evolution has been improved by new evidence that have been
gathered by modern scientists. Moreover still, modern scientists are at an
interminable expansion on collecting data and evidence that may verify or invalidate
the information about evolution of life that we have now. And these pieces of evidence
are significant in the field of biology.

Discover

Previously, you have studied the patterns of descent with modification from
our common ancestor to the present organismal diversity. As well as you also have
traced the development of evolutionary thoughts from a few notable individuals in
the field of evolution.

Before we begin, try some more activity to boost your vocabulary.

Activity: Word Parts


Directions: Below are words that have been divided into halves. Find the
pieces that fit together and write them in your answer sheets.

spe inhert gans igial bryology


igin sils lohous tation vest
riod fos cies tance lution
adap em ry evo pe
or homo theo its tra
CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION AND HOW TO INFER USING ITS
EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIP

A. Fossils

Fossils are preserved remnants of once living organisms trapped in rocks, tar
pits, frozen in ice or embedded in amber. The most common fossils are bones, shells
and seeds or pollen grains. Most fossils are formed in sedimentary rock.
Paleontologists (a specialist in the study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric or
geologic times), use the fossils found in rocks to track the evolutionary history of
many organisms.

(a) (b)
Figure 1. (a) Fossilized shrimp. (b) Mammalian (peccary) fossil
Source: http://www.citruscollege.edu/lc/archive/biology/Pages/Chapter17-Rabitoy.aspx

By identifying the age of rocks in which fossils appear, we can obtain an


accurate idea of how old the fossils are. Geologists use Relative dating rocks were
dated by their position with respect to one another; rocks in deeper strata are
generally older. On the other hand, in absolute dating rocks are dated by measuring
the degree of decay of certain radioisotopes contained in the rock; the older the rock,
the more its isotopes have decayed. Since radioactive isotopes decay at a constant
rate unchanged by temperature or pressure, the isotopes in a rock act as an internal
clock, determining the time after the rock was formed. Hence, the records found in
the rocks show a gradual evolutionary descent from simpler to more complex life
forms. Furthermore, the fossil record provides a clear record of the major
evolutionary transitions that have occurred through time.

B. Embryology

An embryo is an organism in its initial phases of development. While


embryology is the study of the development of the anatomy of an organism to its
adult form also gives evidence of relatedness between now widely different groups of
organisms. Scientists observed that at some point during the development process,
embryos of many different animals appeared so similar that it was difficult to tell
them apart. During development, at some time all vertebrates have a supporting
dorsal rod, called a notochord, and demonstrate paired pharyngeal pouches. This
could indicate that an organism passes through some of the embryonic stages that
its ancestors passed through. Then numerous variations occur in ways appropriate
to an organism’s final form.
However, the similarities in the early stages of embryo development are
further evidence that living organisms have evolved from earlier living things
and that they do share a common ancestry.

Figure 2. Vertebrate embryonic development


Source: http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Antevs/nats104/00lect12.html

C. Anatomical Evidence

In comparing the anatomy and the development of organisms, it shows a unity


of plan among those that are closely related. The more body structures that two
species have in common, the more closely they are related. It adopts the idea of
“descent from a common ancestor”.

Similar structures in different species irrespective of their functions are called


homologous structures. Homology seems to indicate descent from common ancestor.
The limb skeletons of vertebrates are homologous structures.

Figure 3. The limb skeletons of vertebrates are homologous structures.


Source: http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Antevs/nats104/00lect12.html
Analogous structures are structures which are different in appearance but
have the similar function. Analogy does not indicate common ancestry. Examples
of are the limbs of insects and mammals, and wings of butterflies and birds.

Figure 4. Analogy of bat & bird wings


Source: http://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/ Analogy_of_forelimbs.htm

Vestigial structures seem like to give more evidence for evolutionary change.
Vestigial structures are anatomical features that are usually reduced and have no
function in many organisms. These are organs that were previously functional in
the ancestors of the species but are only remnants in the present-day species. For
example, skeletal extremities discovered in certain snakes have no known use to
these animals. In humans, appendix is thought to have no use, but in other
mammals it aids in the digestion of cellulose.

Table 1. Some Vestigial Organs in Man


Coccyx (tail bone) Appendix
Ear muscles for wiggling Wisdom teeth

D. Biochemical

Living organisms shared numerous related biochemical molecules, such as


DNA, ATP, amino acids, and enzymes. This finding supports descent from a common
ancestor. The more closely linked organisms are the more related is their
biochemical genetic makeup.

1. DNA/Nucleic acids
Genes are located in the chromosomes, which are made of DNA or
deoxyribonucleic acid. The more closely related two living organisms are,
the more similar the sequence of their DNA molecules will be.
Figure 5. The phylogenetic tree of the hemogobin gene (with its branches)
shows the number of nucleotide changes that have occurred.
Source: https://evidenceforevolution13bio.weebly.com/biogeography.html

2. Proteins
Proteins are molecules that are
used to build up and repair body
parts. Scientists believe that the
more similar the structure of
protein molecules of different
organisms is, the more related
they are and the more recent the
existence of their common
ancestor. Unrelated species have
different amino acids.
Table 2. Cytochrome c

E. Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the geographic distributions of organisms.
Darwin’s trip around South America allowed him to observe the diversity of
organisms in different areas and the resemblance of such species of birds and
tortoises in an island to nearby mainland. Darwin believed that the group of
organisms in each island is adapted to a distinct way of life. The common ancestors
of these organisms had come from one place, expanding out into other accessible
regions.
Figure 6. Pangolins share similar characteristics with anteaters and armadillos

Need another activity! Try the next activity on the next page.

Explore

Activity 1: Complete the Map!


Direction: Complete the concept map. Use a separate piece of paper.

Evidence for Evolution

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