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Transcript
Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution Dobzhansky, 1973 Definitions In science, laws and theories are related but separate Different types of scientific knowledge Laws: statements or generalizations made about natural phenomena Law of Natural Selection Organisms with adaptations that allow them and their offspring to thrive in an environment will survive, others will eventually die out Law of Gravity Math equation, demonstrates how gravity works under ideal conditions and with things of “large” mass (anything above an molecule in size) Mass of one object * Mass of second object Gravity = Universal ________________________________________ Constant Square of distance between two objects Fg = G [m1 * m2 / r2 ] Theories: explanation of for how the law works Theory of Evolution Change over time Explains how natural selection works Theory of Gravity Does not exist, no one not even Einstein could explain how gravity actually works, especially at the atomic and subatomic levels Evolution and Darwin Historical Evidence 600 BCE Anaximander, credited with coming up with the primary tenets of evolution Determined that creatures from the sea were forced to come ashore, and evolved into land creatures 345 BCE Plato writes that all life represents the imperfect replica of a perfect heavenly model (In other words, living things are not perfect and are able to change over time.) 340 BCE Aristotle observes that dolphins and whales come to the surface for air, fish do not. Therefore, dolphins must once have lived on land. Early 18th C (1700’s) Geological and fossil evidence for change over time is discovered, discussed and published by many geologists and early paleontologists. There was no good explanation of the mechanisms for that change Observational Evidence (Darwin) HMS Beagle (1831 – 1836) Made numerous observations, hated boat trips and tried to get off as often as he could. In South America looked at living armadillos and compared them to fossil evidence. Compared living organisms to fossil evidence: human bones, mollusk shells, ferns, etc Galapagos: made observations of animal behavior as well as appearance Finches were used to determine the mechanism of evolution o An original finch population came from the West Coast of South America and settled on the islands Finches found on the West Coast of South America do not have a lot of genetic differences o These finches spread out over time o Random genetic mutation allowed some finches to survive in “microclimates” while others died Ones with larger beaks break apart harder seeds Smaller beaks eat smaller seeds Vampire finches o Eventually they “drifted” genetically apart and are separate sub species o Over time they could develop into completely separate species of birds (thousands to millions of years) Historical, Cultural and Social Influence Alfred Russel Wallace (1858) o Traveled to Indonesia and made his own biological observations o Came to the same conclusions as Darwin, wrote to Darwin to get Darwin’s opinion o Darwin honored Wallace’s contribution (today seen as equals) o Work gave Darwin the push to publish Experimental Evidence Darwin Took 20 years of writing and experimenting before he published (1859, Origins of the Species) One example: o Took seeds and immersed them in sea water over different time periods to see if the seeds could germinate o Were seeds able to make it to Galapagos from S. America (yes) Current Evidence Surtsey: Volcanic island near Iceland a current “living laboratory” o Didn’t exist until 1964 Genetic Research o Look at DNA and can compare genes o Find out how many genes we share with different species 98% the same a chimpanzees o Also demonstrates the immense differences that can occur with so few genes Bacterial and Viral drug resistence o Exposed to antibiotic and antiviral drugs o Only one surviving bacteria or virus needs to develop an immunity o Will pass trait onto offspring o New strain of bacteria or virus that current medicine will not kill