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Introduction to Adaptation and Evolution
Unit Learning Goals
C1 describe the process of evolution
1. describe the basic structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) with reference to the
following terms (text 47, 184-191 ):
-double helix
-sugar-phosphate backbone
-nitrogenous bases (A, T, C, G)
-complementary base pairing (A-T, C-G)
2. explain the role of DNA in evolution
3. explain the roles of sexual reproduction and meiosis in variation and evolution (text
141,142,143, 264-265)
4. outline evidence for evolution (text 256 to 263; 297-299;306-307)
understand features of the Geologic Time Scale (text 298-299) (activity sheets)
5. describe the five agents of evolutionary change: mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, nonrandom mating, and natural selection (text 265-269,274, 270-275)
6. differentiate among and give examples of:
-convergence, leading to analogous structures
-divergence, leading to homologous structures
-speciation (macroevolution)
7. compare the gradual change model with the punctuated equilibrium model of evolution
8. identify the role of extinction in evolution (text 302 to 303, 225)
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Evidence for Evolution
-Relevant pages in the text are 254 to 275. Use these pages to help you to complete the following notes.
The Blue Footed Booby! Clown, Fool or Simply Well Adapted? Your answer should be in full
sentences. (269)
Large web feet act as flippers underwater and they ‘fly’ underwater. This allows
them to be efficient predators.
On land their feet are awkward due to their large size.
Other aquatic adaptations are their streamlined shape, large tail, salt excreting
glands.
A tradeoff between different needs is occurring: Blue footed Boobies have a net
advantage because they obtain most of their food from the ocean.
Darwin and the Theory of Evolution!
-Read about Charles Darwin on text 256-257.
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-Complete the web activity Darwin and the Galapagos Islands (13.1) and answer the following questions.
1. Despite their volcanic nature, most of the islands have some vegetation - primarily grasses and shrubs,
but several have trees, particularly in the higher locations. At the summits of the higher islands, water
from the clouds that rest on the peaks condenses onto vegetation. How might this make the growing
conditions quite different between the higher and lower elevations on these islands and how would this
affect the variety of organisms on the islands? (Slide 5)
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2. Why do you think that the animals were tame and that there are many exotic species on the islands?
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3. How many distinct species of finches did he identify? _______13
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4. What did Darwin call the “Imps of Darkness”? _____________________________________________
5. Are these land or marine animals?
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6. Why do you think tortoises can grow so large despite being
vegetarians?
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7. How do you think the ancestors of the plants and animals that currently inhabit the Galapagos Islands
arrived there?
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8. Why are there so many unique types of plants and animals found on the Galapagos Islands?
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9. What was the most important step that Darwin had taken by the time his tour of the Galapaos Islands
was complete?
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10. What is the name of Darwin’s famous book describing his ideas on evolution?
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-View the web activity The Voyage of the Beagle: Darwin’s Trip Around the World for interest only.
What is Evolution?
The idea that organisms descended from ancestors which evolved over millions of
years as a result of adaptations to the environment.
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What are Evolutionary Adaptations?
_Inherited traits that improve an organisms chances of survival
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in it’s habitat .
Describe the evolutionary adaptations of one animal and one plant that you are familiar with.
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As a human, how are you well adapted to survive in your niche?
 We are capable of modifying our surroundings to make them more
hospitable. This has permitted humans to colonize almost every ecosystem
on earth.
 Adaptations include: language, opposable thumbs, and abstract thought.
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The Role of DNA in Evolution Deoxyribonucleic acid
To understand how comparative biochemistry can be used as evidence for evolution, you need to
understand the chemistry of the nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins, and the relationship
between these two groups of molecules.
DNA is a large molecule made of smaller sub units called nucleotides. (Reference text 46-47 for
homework).
What is a gene?
_A section of a chromosome which codes for a specific trait.
Chromosomes are made up of DNA. We have 23 pairs, that is 46 chromosomes per
cell except in egg and sperm cells.
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DNA and RNA are made up of nucleotides. In the space below, create a diagram showing the basic
structure of a nucleotide (text 47).
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How are these nucleotides connected to form a DNA double helix?
The nitrogenous bases are ____________________, ____________________, ____________________,
____________________. G pairs with _____ and A to _____.
In RNA, T is replaced by __________________.
What are the two main function of DNA?
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You DNA is unique, unless you have an identical twin. DNA is found in your chromosomes. How could
one molecule of DNA differ from another?
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Genes express themselves by coding for proteins. The diagram below illustrates gene expression.
Proteins are long chains of amino acids. How do they differ from each other?
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-Complete the activity comparing amino acid sequences and evolutionary relationships: The Molecular
Connection.
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Types of Evolution
Microevolution is ______________________________________________________________________
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Macroevolution is _____________________________________________________________________
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Sexual Reproduction and Evolution
View the DVD Why Sex?
Activity: Genetic Variation from Sexual Recombination (13.8)
Complete Activity: Genetic Variation from Sexual Recombination (13.8) on text website.
Read text pages 264 to 265 and 141 to 143. Complete the questions below.
1. The original and ultimate source of variation for evolution is:
______________mutations__= a change in the order of bases in DNA. _____________
2. In sexually reproducing organisms, the cells that come together to form the zygote are called
gametes.
Are these cells haploid or diploid? Haploid meaning the chromosomes do not exist in pairs.
Humans have 23 pairs in each body cell and 23 unpaired in each gamete, sperm and egg cells.
3. Why is meiosis required before the gametes are formed?
So that the number of chromosomes is reduced to half and they are unpaired. Also
called REDUCTION DIVISION.
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5. Sexual reproduction gives rise to a great deal of variation as a result of three different processes.
Identify each process and give a brief explanation of how it creates variation in offspring.
a) Independent assortment of chromosomes in a gamete formation at metaphase 1 of meiosis.
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b) Crossing over of sections of chromosomes during prophase 1 of meiosis.
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c)
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Random fertilization - many sperm cells are produced but only one will fertilize the egg cell.
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Evidence for the Theory of Evolution
Learning Objective:
Outline the evidence for evolution and understand features of the Geologic
Time Scale.
Text pages: 260 to 263
Examine and understand the Geologic Record. Table 15.6 text page 299. This will be used as a reference.
Review Activities for interest only: The History of Life (15.4) and A Scrolling Geologic Record (15.6)
View the Great Transformations on Extinction DVD
1. Fossil Evidence
-Fossil Formation: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/course/session3/explore_a.html
-Read text pages 258 to 259 and examine the photographs of fossils.
a) What are fossils?
A fossil is the remains of a prehistoric organism that are preserved in petrified form or as a mould.
b) What are Trace Fossils?
Indirect evidence of prehistoric organisms in rock or ice. For example footprints, tracks, burrows, or
faeces!
c) The study of fossils is called paleontology and scientists in this field are paleontologist .
d) What are three different media in which fossils are found?
Amber, ice and rock formed from sediment
-The diagram below shows the formation of sedimentary rock and the deposition of fossils from different
time periods.
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e) Why don’t all organic remains (plants and animals) end up as fossils?
Because they decompose when exposed to oxygen. Bacteria decompose the organic molecules for
recycling.
-Because fossil formation is rare, the fossil record __________ does not accurately represent the history
of life on Earth. The most prevalent fossils are ____hard fossils___ (bone and shell animals). Plants are
usually only found as trace fossils
f) How do fossils provide strong evidence for evolution?
They are examples of ancient species, transition species and show how species changed through time.
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2. What is the Burgess Shale?
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Whale Evolution
Watch Evolution DVD Great transformations,
animals form for information on whale evolution or
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/course/session3/engage
_a.html
whale evolution to answer these introductory
questions to the study of whale evolution.
Also read about whale evolution on p.261 in textbook
1. What was special about the animal called
Basilosaurus? _
Evolved 41 mya _______Almond sized
bump, inner ear on a wolf like animal like
that of a whale. Led to the support of
Darwin’s prediction that whales evolved from
land animals. Basilosaurus lived full time in
water. Had legs which modern whales have
lost. Pelvis, mobile knee and knee cap and
several toes, complete set of leg bones.
Evidence that whales were once 4 legged
animals. ____________________________________________________________
1. How long ago did Synonix live? ________________56 mya
___________________wolf like
creature________________________________________________
2. Apart from bones, what other evidence is there for whale evolution? _________nostrils
on head for breathing, way they move,
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3. How do whales and other mammals swim compared to fish?
_____________________fish flex spine from side to side
Mammals undulate spine up and down.
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Whale kiosk http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/whaleanat.html is a fun way to study whale
evolution.
What are Transitional Links? Do your own research on this.
Fossils of intermediate species. That is links between one species and
another. For example reptiles to birds. They highlight evolutionary
transitions.
Name and describe one transitional links in the fossil record.
An example of this is Archaeopteryx which is a transition between reptiles
and birds.
Eustheopoteron is an amphibious fish.
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Read the article: The actual ages of rocks and fossils mark geologic time, p.298
Write your own summary note on the dating of fossils.
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2. Biogeographical Evidence p. 300 to 301
View this http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/lsps07_int_biogeography/
What is biogeographical evidence? __
The geographical distribution of related species suggesting evolution from a common
ancestor. __________________________________________________________
What is continental drift and how is it used as evidence for evolution? Use the table
below and the geological time scale to understand this evidence of evolution.
The theory that there was once one land mass and the continents drifted apart. _
Marsupials developed in Australia after the separation of the land masses. Galapagos
animals resemble species from the South American mainland.
Fossils of the Antarctic resemble fossils at the tip of Africa and South America.
Mountains of South America have the same rock composition as the Antarctic range –
South America and Antarctica were once joined. _______
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Provide some examples of how continental drift explains the distribution of related
organisms. __Giant birds are only found in the Southern Hemisphere.
Southern Africa has ostriches, Australia has the emu. Mauritius had the Dodo bird.
New Zealand had the Moa bird, Penguins are only found in the Southern Hemisphere.
These animals must have evolved after Gondwana separated from Pangea.
3. Anatomical Evidence
p.259 to 261
Watch Evolution DVD Transformations - How did animals form!
Comparative anatomy
Why does the concept of common descent offer a plausible explanation for anatomical
similarities among organisms? _
These similarities appear to have developed and diverged from the common ancestor.
Evolution is a remodeling process. _
What is homology? similarity in characteristics which result from common ancestry.___
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The structures below are HOMOLOGOUS. Why? _They are structurally similar but
functionally different. _
Name some other homologous structures. (use the textbook ) hindlimbs in humans are
used for walking and running.
In rabbits they are used for jumping and hopping.
Birds use these for hopping
Bats use hindlimbs to grasp when hanging. _
Embryos also show homology.
What are ANALOGOUS structures? Structurally different with the same function. __
Give examples. ___sugar gliders are marsupials in Australia and flying squirrels are
placental mammals in America.
Bird and insect wings are analogous.
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Compare Convergent Evolution and Divergent Evolution.
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What are vestigial structures? Why can they be explained by common descent? Give
examples. __Vestigial structures are of little or no importance. For example the appendix was
used to digest cellulose, rabbits ave a large appendix, ouir is of no use.
Coccyx tail bone in humans not used.
Primitive snakes have limb bones below skin.
Dogs have a dew claw of no use.
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Comparative Embryology.
Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Lkac890c0 embryo evolution
Examine figure 13.4B on p.261 (also shown below)
What are the homologous structures in the chick and human embryos pictures shown above?
____Both have a tail but human tail is absorbed before birth. ____Human hands have fingers
but piglets have hooves. ___________________
Read p. 306
Note the change in eye structure from limpet to squid. Which structures were added at each
stage? Add humans to your list!
Limpets have a patch of light sensitive cells, abalone have these cells arranged in cup shape,
Nautilus has a fluid filled cavity, Marine snails have a lens at the end of this cavity, and squis
have developed a cornea to close the cavity with the lens in. Finally humans have rods and
cones on the retina to see colour. ______________________
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4. Biochemical Evidence (molecular biology)
p. 312 to 314
What biochemical evidence is there for evolution? ___
Scientists have been able to compare DNA and protein structure to make analogies and
links between different organisms. For example the blood protein hemoglobin only varies
slightly from one organism to another.
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The information below shows evidence of haemoglobin homology. Comment.
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How does homology relate to molecular biology and evolution?
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Summarize the factors that provide evidence for evolution:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Homologous anatomical features
Fossils
Biogeochemical evidence
Molecular evidence
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