Theory of Evolution
   Natural Selection
Genetic variation is the driving force behind
evolution. There are many ideas of why populations
change overtime. These changes may be due to
mutation, movement of alleles between
populations, interbreeding, isolation, and natural
selection
Theories of Evolution

A. Jean Baptist Lamarck
Evolution occurs due to inheritance of ACQUIRED
  TRAITS FROM A COMMON ANCESTOR, not from
  changes in the environment
Idea that variation in a population is created by
  experience
Ex. Individuals passed on to offspring body and
  behavior changes acquired during life
What is wrong with this idea?
Theories of Evolution
B. Charles Darwin
2 Major Theories:

1. Descent with Modification: stated that ALL
new species were ALTERED DESCEDENTS of
OLDER ANCESTORS and arose from similar
geographic locations
2. Natural Selection: proposes that NATURE or
environmental conditions DETERMINE and
individual’s CHARACTERISTICS, which in turn
leads to EVOLVING population over time
4 Mechanisms of Natural Selection
o GENE VARIATION EXISTS WITHIN A POPULATION

                    Only if variation is
                     GENETICALLY BASED will
                     natural selection lead to
                     evolution
                    -MUTATIONS and
                     RECOMBINATION of
                     genes may produce
                     beneficial changes and
                     INCREASE gene variation
                     within a population
o INDIVIDUALS WITH MORE SUCCESSFUL TRAITS
  WILL PASS TRAITS ON TO OFFSPRING
                    -in turn, will increase the
                    success of the
                    population
o INDIVIDUALS MOST ADAPTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT
  WOULD GET THE BASIC RESOURCES FOR LIFE

 -ADAPTATION: individuals response to
  environmental pressures – may reduce
  competition within a population
o INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MOST “FIT” HAVE
  GREATEST POTENTIAL TO REPRODUCE
  SUCCESSFULLY AND INCREASE POPULATION
  NUMBERS OVER TIME –”survival of the fittest”




-FITNESS: reproductive success of one individuals
 genetic contribution to the next generation
Examples of “fitness”
• Bacterial resistance to antibiotics
• Pesticide resistant insects
• Skin color - melanin
Summing Up Natural Selection
Theory of evolution notes

Theory of evolution notes

  • 1.
    Theory of Evolution Natural Selection
  • 2.
    Genetic variation isthe driving force behind evolution. There are many ideas of why populations change overtime. These changes may be due to mutation, movement of alleles between populations, interbreeding, isolation, and natural selection
  • 3.
    Theories of Evolution A.Jean Baptist Lamarck Evolution occurs due to inheritance of ACQUIRED TRAITS FROM A COMMON ANCESTOR, not from changes in the environment Idea that variation in a population is created by experience Ex. Individuals passed on to offspring body and behavior changes acquired during life
  • 4.
    What is wrongwith this idea?
  • 5.
    Theories of Evolution B.Charles Darwin 2 Major Theories: 1. Descent with Modification: stated that ALL new species were ALTERED DESCEDENTS of OLDER ANCESTORS and arose from similar geographic locations
  • 6.
    2. Natural Selection:proposes that NATURE or environmental conditions DETERMINE and individual’s CHARACTERISTICS, which in turn leads to EVOLVING population over time
  • 7.
    4 Mechanisms ofNatural Selection
  • 8.
    o GENE VARIATIONEXISTS WITHIN A POPULATION Only if variation is GENETICALLY BASED will natural selection lead to evolution -MUTATIONS and RECOMBINATION of genes may produce beneficial changes and INCREASE gene variation within a population
  • 9.
    o INDIVIDUALS WITHMORE SUCCESSFUL TRAITS WILL PASS TRAITS ON TO OFFSPRING -in turn, will increase the success of the population
  • 10.
    o INDIVIDUALS MOSTADAPTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT WOULD GET THE BASIC RESOURCES FOR LIFE -ADAPTATION: individuals response to environmental pressures – may reduce competition within a population
  • 11.
    o INDIVIDUALS THATARE MOST “FIT” HAVE GREATEST POTENTIAL TO REPRODUCE SUCCESSFULLY AND INCREASE POPULATION NUMBERS OVER TIME –”survival of the fittest” -FITNESS: reproductive success of one individuals genetic contribution to the next generation
  • 12.
    Examples of “fitness” •Bacterial resistance to antibiotics
  • 13.
  • 14.
    • Skin color- melanin
  • 15.