Natural Selection & Evolution

Darwins Observations
Offspring appear similar to their parents No 2 individuals were identical Organisms have the ability to produce large numbers of offspring Populations in nature tend to remain fairly stable

Evolution by natural selection

The English naturalist Charles Darwin noticed that there were many similarities between different species. He believed that these similarities pointed to a common ancestry and that new species form by gradual changes over the generations.

Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace proposed natural selection as the mechanism by which the most successful changes are passed on, allowing organisms to evolve to suit their environment.
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Darwins conclusions
A struggle to survive Better adapted individuals survive and pass on their characteristics Over time, a number of changes can give rise to a new species

Natural selection

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Natural Selection
Environmental factor determines which individuals will survive Individuals are selected from population They undergo a selection pressure If advantageous characteristic we say the trait has been selected for If not it will not survive will not pass on genes

Examples of selective forces

Can you think of examples?

Speciation
Define speciation

Speciation
Speciation the formation of a new species from a pre-existing one How long? long slow accumulation of changes depends on speed of reproduction
Bacteria

How does it occur? Reproductive barriers

Geographical isolation allopatric speciation Physical or biochemical changes sympatric speciation

Darwins evidence for evolution

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Modern Evidence
Biological molecules
certain molecules found throughout the living world Identical molecules between two species that have recently evolved as separate species

Protein variation
Cytochrome C DNA and RNA polymerase

DNA
Genes can be compared by sequencing bases in DNA The more differences in DNA base sequence, the further down the timeline the two species evolved from eachother

Examples of Evolution Today

1. Variation must occur 2. Environment selects 3. Advantageous characteristics will survive and reproduce 4. Pass on advantageous characteristics 5. Next generation better adapted to environment

Think of examples of evolution occurring today