Transcript Genetic Evolution vs. Cultural Evolution

Christopher Lynch
Introduction
• Since the time of civilization, amongst humans,
culture has been an ever evolving factor
• The same can be said for genetics as well
• In this presentation, genetic evolution will be
compared and contrasted with cultural evolution
• Cultural and genetic evolution will also be observed
and discussed amongst other fellow mammals that
inhabit this great planet
What are we talking about?
• Before we can begin to analyze the differences and
similarities between genetic and cultural evolution, we
must first understand what exactly the two are
• Genetic Evolution refers to the change in gene
frequency, which is the frequency of alleles in a
breeding population from generation to generation
• Cultural Evolution refers to the significance of
cultural inheritance and the various ways of learning
from others within a population
How do these factors relate to one
another?
• Evidence of Genetic Evolution can be observed when
analyzing the genetic changes a population expresses
over many generations
• Genetic evolution is not something that can be seen
overnight, atleast not amongst mammals
• Information is passed from one individual to another
through procreation and thus is a much longer process
How do these factors relate to one
another?
 Cultural evolution is a factor that can be seen
occurring at a much faster rate
 Passing along information from one individual to
another, through “word of mouth”
 Evolution of culture can occur multiple times in a day
How do these factors relate to one
another?
• The commonality amongst these two factors, is that
information is being passed from one individual to
another within a given population
• The rates at which results can be observed are
drastically different, yet the concept of information
exchange is exactly the same
• We will now further investigate the ways in which
these two factors have evolved or changed over time…
Genetic Evolution
 To further this evidence of genetic evolution, we can
take a look at another mammal, the dolphin
 Dolphins, whose ancestors were once land dwelling
mammals, have evolved to be incredibly agile and
supremely suitable for a marine environment
Environmental factors
resulted in the
transition of habitat
from land to the
ocean.
Possible environmental
factors:
Climate degradation
Increased competition
amongst other predators
The above picture
shows further
evidence of genetic
evolution
Although the dolphin has no
hind limbs, it retains a pelvis
which supports the idea that
the dolphin evolved from a
land dwelling mammal.
Genetic evolution has found
no need to completely
remove the pelvis. It does not
hinder or benefit the
individual
Cultural Evolution
 Some species of dolphin express and amazing trait that is
passed along amongst the population by cultural evolution
 The Common Bottle-Nose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) has
been observed forcing schools of fish onto the shore by
creating a bow wave and then feeding on the land-stranded
fish.
 The largest in the dolphin family, the killer whale (Orcinus
Orca) practices a very similar learned behavior on the shores
of Patagonia
 This is a risky behavior for dolphins, some have been known
to beach and become unable to return to the water and then
die
Killer Whale/Orca
(Orcinus orca)
Orca feeding on young seals
that are attempting to
understand the concept of
swimming
Depiction of Human
Genetic Evolution
The scale on the left extends
in increments of millions of
years
Power of “Word of
Mouth”
The following graph shows
several different techniques
used to promote a company’s
new product. The strength of
word of mouth can be
observed
Analysis
 Information can be passed from one individual to
another, within a population, through genes as well as
word of mouth
 Genetic and cultural evolution are constantly changing
and allowing individuals to become better equipped to
survive as well as thrive within their population
 The scales of time in which these two factors occur are
drastically different yet they produce a similar desired
outcome, to better equip the individual in life