Where do species come from?
How did we end up with an amazing array of 4 million to 100
million species?
BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
Biological Evolution - the process whereby earth’s life changes over time through changes in
the genes of populations
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND- the idea that organisms change over time and are descended
from a common ancestor has existed since ancient Greek philosophers. However, it wasn’t until
1858 that naturalists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace independently proposed the
concept of natural selection as the mechanism behind evolution. Although Wallace also
suggested natural selection, it was Darwin who provided extensive evidence for the theory,
publishing his work On the Origin of Species in 1859. Darwin and Wallace observed that
organisms must struggle for resources to survive and reproduce. Those with advantageous
traits are more likely to survive and pass those traits on to future generations, leading to
changes in a population’s genetic makeup. This process, called natural selection, is the driving
force behind biological evolution, explaining how life has evolved over the past 3.7 billion years
and why it is so diverse today.
Natural Selection- the mechanism proposed by Darwin and Wallace in 1858, explaining how
organisms with advantageous traits survive and reproduce, passing those traits to future
generations.
Fossils- provide evidence of ancient life, showing physical traits and internal structures of extinct
organisms.
Fossil record- The cumulative body of fossils found is uneven and incomplete (only about 1% of
species are represented) due to various factors like decomposition.
Genetic Variability - Variations in the genetic makeup of a population, which arise from
mutations.
- Mutations- Random changes in DNA that can be inherited. Some mutations result from
exposure to mutagens (e.g., radiation, chemicals).
- Mutations in Reproductive Cells- Only mutations in reproductive cells can be passed
on to offspring.
● Example: A mutation could create a trait that improves an organism's ability to survive in
its environment, such as a mutation that helps an organism resist a certain disease.
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Adaptation- A heritable trait that improves an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in its
environment.
○ Differential Reproduction- enables individuals with the trait to leave more
offspring than other members of the population leave.
○ Genetic resistance - the ability of one or more organisms in a population to
tolerate a chemical designed to kill it.
Three Common Myths about Evolution
1. "Survival of the Fittest" Means "Survival of the Strongest"
• To biologists, fitness is a measure of reproductive success, not strength. Thus, the fittest
individuals are those that leave the most descendants.
2. Organisms Develop Traits Because They Need or Want Them
• A giraffe does not have a very long neck because it needs or wants it in order to feed on
vegetation high in trees. Rather, some ancestor had a gene for long necks that gave it an
advantage over other members of its population in getting food, and that giraffe produced more
offspring with long necks.
3. Evolution Has a Grand Plan or Goal
• from a scientific standpoint, no plan or goal of genetic perfection has been identified in the
evolutionary process. Rather, it appears to be a random, branching process that results in a
great variety of species
Geological Processes Affect Natural Selection
● Tectonic Plate Movement - The movement of the Earth's tectonic plates influences the
climate and ecosystems, determining where life can survive and evolve.
○ Effect on Species: When continents join, species can disperse and adapt to
new areas. When they separate, populations evolve or face extinction.
○ Earthquakes: Can isolate populations, leading to the formation of new species.
○ Volcanic Eruptions: Can destroy habitats and wipe out species, driving new
evolutionary processes.
Climate Change and Catastrophes Affect Natural Selection
● Climate Change- Dramatic long-term climate fluctuations have shaped the survival of
species by changing ecosystems and determining which species thrive.
○ Ice Ages and Warming Periods- These changes altered the location and types
of ecosystems (e.g., deserts, forests).
○ Example: Species become extinct due to rapid climate changes, while new
species evolve to occupy vacant ecological roles.
● Catastrophic Events- Asteroid impacts and other large-scale catastrophes can wipe
out species and reshape ecosystems.
○ Opportunities for New Species: These events can create new ecological
niches for evolving species.
Adaptations and the Future of Evolution
● Three Possible Outcomes When Environmental Conditions Change:
1. Adapt- Populations evolve through natural selection to survive in new conditions.
2. Migrate- Species may move to more favorable environments.
3. Extinction- If conditions change too rapidly or drastically, species may not
survive.
● Example: Human evolution – Humans have developed tools, weapons, and
technologies that allow us to survive and thrive in diverse environments. However, rapid
environmental changes, often due to human activity, challenge our survival, and
adaptation may require us to use our intelligence and innovations.
