Transcript Isn`t evolution just a theoryPBSppt

Isn’t evolution just a theory?
Yes—It is like gravity. You see the effect, but
you don’t immediately see the evidence or
cause.
There is a lot of evidence but there are still
arguments made by scientists left to be
resolved.
Who was Charles Darwin?
• Charles Darwin was an English naturalist
• the founder of the Theory of Evolution by
Natural Selection—he studied the rise of
new species
• Published author of The Origin of the
Species
• Med student prior to his voyage on the
Beagle
• First to theorize that we all evolved from a
common ancestor—The Branching Tree.
How do we know evolution happens?
• The fossil record
• Can connect organisms living
today to a common ancestor
• Fossils are compared to similar
looking organisms that are alive
today and are studied to discover
how they relate to each other
How does evolution really work?
• Natural selection
– Genetic variations
– Struggles for existence (competition)
– Reproduction --overproduction
• Characteristics or traits that help an
organism survive are passed down over
millions of years
• Adaptations—Ex-hummingbirds’ beaks
Did humans evolve?
• Yes—all organisms share a
common ancestor. We share
common characteristics and
similar DNA to other organisms
• Over time, variations and
mutations in DNA cause the
rise of new species.
Why does evolution matter now?
• Variations can be helpful to protect you
against certain microbial dangers
• Variations can also be harmful in leaving
you vulnerable to certain microbial
dangers
• Evolution is key to understanding
diseases—we can project ideas gained
from the study of evolution to help guide
our future studies.