Transcript File
Biological Evolution
Standard B – 5.4
Standard B-5
The student will
demonstrate an
understanding of
biological evolution
and the diversity of
life.
Indicator B – 5.4:
Explain how genetic
variability and
environmental factors
lead to biological
evolution.
Key Concepts
•
•
•
•
Genetic Variability
Genetic Equilibrium
Speciation
Patterns of Evolution
What You Already Know!
In the 8th grade, you
explained how Earth’s
history had been influenced
by catastrophes that
affected the conditions on
Earth and diversity of its life
forms. You also
summarized the factors,
both natural and man-made
that can contribute to the
extinction of a species.
What You Should Understand
After This Lesson
• Genetic variation is random
– Cannot be controlled in nature
• Many factors influence genetic variability
• The Hardy-Weinberg Principle
– No genetic change – Equilibrium
• Speciation is the process of forming a new
species
Objective
• Identify ways genetic variability can occur
in a population.
• Explain the Hardy-Weinberg Principle.
• Explain how speciation can occur.
Vocabulary
1. gene flow
2. genetic drift
3. mutations
4. natural selection
5. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
6. gradualism
7. punctuated equilibrium
8. adaptive radiation
9. divergent evolution
10. convergent evolution
11. coevolution
12. extinction
Mechanisms of Evolution
• Natural Selection is the
main mechanism of
biological evolution.
– It is not the only
mechanism of evolution.
– There are many factors
that can lead to biological
evolution.
Factors that Affect
Genetic Variability
• Genetic variation is random and ensures
that each new generation will result in
individuals with unique genotypes and
phenotypes.
– This leads to genetic variability.
• There are many factors that can lead to genetic
variability.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Gene Flow
Genetic Drift
Non-random Mating
Mutations
Natural Selection
The movement of
alleles between
populations.
– Occurs when
individuals join new
populations and
reproduce.
– Keeps neighboring
populations similar.
– Low gene flow
increases the chances
that two populations
will evolve into
different species.
Gene Flow
bald eagle migration
Genetic Drift
A change in allele
frequencies due
to chance.
Causes a loss of
genetic diversity.
Most common
in small populations.
The bottleneck effect occurs after
a drastic event in the population.
Non-Random
Mating
Mating has an important
effect on the evolution of
a population.
– Males produce many
sperm continuously,
making the value of each
low.
– Females produce less
eggs, so they are choosy
about who they mate
with.
– limits the frequency of the
expression of certain
alleles.
Mutations
• A change in the DNA of
an organism.
• DNA RNA Amino
Acid Protein
• Increases the frequency
and types of allele
changes within a
population.
Natural Selection
• The main mechanism to biological
evolution.
– Allows for the most favorable phenotypes to
survive & be passed to future generations
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Biologists use models to study populations.
Provides a framework for understanding how
populations evolve.
Describes populations that are NOT evolving.
This means the genes are staying the same.
Has 5 conditions that must be met
5 Conditions of Hardy-Weinberg
Equilibrium
1.The population must be very large, no
genetic drift occurs.
2.There must be no movement into our out
of the population.
3.There must be random mating.
4.There must be no mutations within the
gene pool.
5.There must be no natural selection.
Real Populations
Real populations
RARELY meet all 5
conditions of HardyWeinberg.
Why do you think that is?
Write down 3 reasons
why you think the human
population would never
reach genetic equilibrium.
Speciation
• The process of forming a new species by
biological evolution from a pre-existing
species.
• Can arise when species become isolated.
– Populations become isolated when there is
no gene flow.
– Isolated populations adapt to their own
environments.
– Genetic differences can add up over many
generations.
• Can happen in a number of ways.
Reproductive Isolation
Members of different populations cannot
mate successfully
Final step to becoming separate species
Males and females are no longer attracted
to one another for a number of reasons.
Sometimes physical barriers (parts not
fitting) is a reason.
Fruit flies could be attracted more to other
flies that eat the same type of fruit as they
do.
Geographic Isolation
When physical barriers divide populations.
Habitats being divided.
A natural disaster causing organisms to split
up.
A population of wild fruit flies are minding their own business eating and laying their eggs
in some rotting bananas. A hurricane strikes and washes both the bananas and the flies
out to see. Eventually, they land on an island just off the coast of the mainland. The fruit
flies hatch and now they are completely separated from the other fruit flies on the
mainland. Those on the island face a different environment than those on the mainland
and eventually evolve to meet their needs on the island. Many generations go by and
the island fruit flies are not different from the mainland fruit flies-they no longer mate with
one another. Even if another storm were to reunite the flies, they would not mate due to
their courtship evolution.
Behavioral Isolation
Includes differences in courtship or mating
behaviors
Due to having different sexual selections
pressures.
The mating display on the left is different from the one on the right. Even
though the birds look the same to us, the females will not mate with a
male if the male does not do the correct mating display.
Temporal Isolation
Timing of reproduction varies among
organisms.
Separation in time of mating.
Even though these two fields of flowers are near one another, they will not
cross pollinate because they each bloom at different times of the year.
Environmental Factors
• Many environmental factors can lead to
biological evolution:
– Catastrophic Events
– Climatic Changes
– Continental Drift
Environmental Factors:
Catastrophic Events
Environmental Factors:
Climatic Changes
Environmental Factors:
Continental Drift
Patterns of Evolution
• There are many patterns to how evolution
can occur:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Gradualism
Punctuated equilibrium
Adaptive radiation/Divergent evolution
Convergent evolution
Coevolution
Extinction
Gradualism
Gradual changes of a species in a particular
way over long periods of time
Punctuated Equilibrium
Periods of abrupt changes in a species
after long periods of little change within the
species over time.
Changes due to abrupt changes in the
environment.
Adaptive Radiation /
Divergent Evolution
Many species evolve
from one species.
Ancestor diversifies into
many descendents.
Descendents usually
adapted to different
environments than
ancestors.
Adaptive Radiation /
Divergent Evolution
Evolution towards
different traits in
closely related
species.
red fox
kit fox
ancestor
Convergent Evolution
Evolution among
different organisms
living in similar
environments.
Organisms come to look
like other organisms not
directly related to them.
Coevolution
Two or more species can
evolve together through
coevolution.
– evolutionary paths
become connected
– species evolve in
response to changes in
each other
Can occur in beneficial
relationships
Extinction
Extinction is the
elimination of a
species from
Earth.
Background
extinctions occur
continuously at a
very low rate.