Download what is evolution?

WHAT IS EVOLUTION?
Evolution is a change in
gene pool over time.
It also is the idea that new
species develop from earlier
species, sometimes
referred to as “descent with
modification”
FAQ: Isn’t evolution only a
theory?
It is a fact in the respect that
yes, it has indeed occurred
and is occurring on a daily
basis.
It is a theory in the respect
that scientists disagree on the
details of how it occurred.
Remember what a theory
in science is - a well-substantiated
explanation of some aspect of the
natural world that can incorporate
facts, inferences, and tested
hypotheses* (not a hunch or guess)
*(National Science Foundation)
We live in interesting times:
August 1999: Board of Education in the State of Kansas
votes to remove all mention of evolution from state
science curriculum.
Why is Evolution under attack?
Darwin’s Ideas were (and are)
regarded as a dangerous threat to a
God-centered understanding of
mankind’s place in the living world.
Why Evolution?
Why not Cell Biology?
Physiology? Organic
Chemistry?
Why is Evolution under attack?
Darwin’s Ideas were (and are)
regarded as a dangerous threat to a
God-centered understanding of
mankind’s place in the living world.
Why Evolution?
Why not Cell Biology?
Physiology? Organic
Chemistry?
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Next Battleground: Dover, PA
Dover trial
began on
Monday:
Sept. 26, 2005
FAQ: What is the evidence of Evolution?
•The Fossil Record
•A Universal Genetic Code
• Common Molecular Sequences
•Common Protein Sequences
•Transitional Fossils
•Daily observation of evolution
of microbes
•Vestigial Organs Including:
•the appendix
•wisdom teeth
•male nipples
•third eyelid
• plantaris muscle – for grasping
•male uterus
• neck ribs – appear in 1% of
the population
•Body Hair and Rudimentary Ear
Muscles
•Erector Pili
•Palmaris Muscle – for climbing
•Thirteenth Rib (vs. 12) and the
Coccyx
• Pyramidalis Muscle
•Female Vas Deferens
•Subclavius Muscle
Homologous Brains, Structures,
and Embryos
FAQ: Are you going to
teach us that we are
descendants of apes?
•No, That’s an inaccurate conception of evolutionary theory. We have
the closest common ancestry with
the great apes
A Molecular Test of
Common Ancestry
Chromosome
Numbers in the Great
Apes:
Human (Homo) 46
Chimpanzee (Pan)
48
Gorilla (Gorilla) 48
Orangutan (Pogo)
48
Testable prediction: If these
organisms share a common
ancestor, that ancestor had 48
chromosomes (24 pairs)
Chromosome Numbers
Ancestral
in the great apes
Chromosomes
(Hominidae):
Fusion
Homo sapiens
Human (Homo) 46
Chimpanzee (Pan) 48
Gorilla (Gorilla) 48
Orangutan (Pogo) 48
Inactivated
centromere
Telomere
sequences
Centromere
Telomere
If these organisms share a
common ancestor, that ancestor had 48
chromosomes (24 pairs)
Testable prediction:
Chromosome Numbers
in the great apes
(Hominidae):
Human (Homo) 46
Chimpanzee (Pan) 48
Gorilla (Gorilla) 48
Orangutan (Pogo) 48
Hillier et al (2004) “Generation and Annotation of the DNA sequences of human
chromosomes 2 and 4,” Nature 434: 724 – 731.
“Chromosome
Homo sapiens
Inactivated
centromere
Telomere
sequences
2 is unique to the human
lineage of evolution, having emerged as a
result of head-to-head fusion of two
acrocentric chromosomes that remained
separate in other primates. The precise
fusion site has been located in 2q13–2q14.1
(ref. 2; hg 16:114455823 – 114455838), where
our analysis confirmed the presence of
multiple subtelomeric duplications to
chromosomes 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 19, 21 and 22
(Fig. 3; Supplementary Fig. 3a, region A).
During the formation of human chromosome
2, one of the two centromeres became
inactivated (2q21, which corresponds to the
centromere from chimp chromosome 13)
and the centromeric structure quickly
deterioriated (42).”
Hillier et al (2004) “Generation and Annotation of the DNA sequences of human
chromosomes 2 and 4,” Nature 434: 724 – 731.
FAQ: If we have a common
ancestor with apes, why are there
still apes?
FAQ: Doesn’t “believing” or
“accepting” evolutionary theory
mean you don’t believe in God?
No, most mainstream religions
accept modern evolutionary
theory it premises
FAQ: Why can’t we learn
creationism and evolution?
Should “equal time” be
devoted to both?
FAQ: IF EVOLUTION IS
OCCURRING, HOW COME
WE’RE NOT GROWING A
SIXTH FINGER OR TOE, ETC?
Right now there is no selective
pressure on human as a species
to evolve
FAQ: Why is it that
important anyway?
Evolution is a central unifying
theme incorporating:
- molecular (DNA)biology
-cellular biology
-genetics
-taxonomy
- physiology
“Nothing in biology makes
sense except in the light of
evolution.”
Theodosius Dobzhansky,
1973
How is evolution both a fact and
a theory? What is meant by the
word, “theory”?
What was the last major court
case dealing with teaching
evolution in schools? What was
the ruling?
List two major pieces of evidence
that demonstrate evolution has
occurred.
Place the following events in
chronological order from first to
most recent using “Pacing
Geologic Time”
•evolution of reptiles
•evolution of mammals
•evolution of birds
•evolution of amphibians
•first flowering plants
Know These in Chronological Order:
•evolution of eukaryotes
•first multicellular life
•earliest fish
•first amphibians
•first reptiles
•first dinosaurs
•first mammals
•earliest birds
•first flowering plants
•early primates
•earliest humans
1)Calculate the percentage of time
that humans have been on the
earth.
2) The fossil record supports the
theory that all multicellular evolved
within the past ______ million
years.