Evolution
Unifying theme of biology; helps explain diversity of life
Theories
Statements or models that have been tested and confirmed; experimental. data and observations; Can be used to make predictions; can be changed
Questions
can be answered using established theories
Predictions
can be made using theories
Main ideas of evolution
Change in frequency of traits in a population over time;
came from pre-existing organisms
Lamark’s Theory of Acquired Characteristics
Gain or Lose features if you over used or didn’t use them (not correct)
Natural Selection
Charles Darwin; “Survival of the fittest”; Main points:
- Species produce more offspring than can survive
- Compete for resources
- best traits produce the most offspring
order of Natural selection
- Variation
- Inheritance
- Differential Survival
- Adaptation
Artificial Selection
Humans select variations they found useful and bred animals and plants for those traits
Theory of evolution evidence
- Fossils
- Homologous Structures
- Vestigial Organs
- DNA
- Embyros
- Direct Observation
Speciation
formation of a new species
Species
group that can interbreed, produce fertile offspring
Adaptive Radiation
One species becomes many species
Phylogenetic Tree
shows how species are related
