Transcript Evolution & Creation - Mrs. Standish

The Theory of Evolution
Evolution:

The most famous scientist that studied and
discussed evolution is Charles Darwin.
 In 1831 Charles Darwin undertook a five
year scientific study on the H.M.S. Beagle.
 He traveled to the Galapagos Islands
where he discovered his greatest proof to
support evolution.
 On the Galapagos islands Darwin discovered
an interesting bird, the Finch.
Evolution continued:

Darwin observed that Finches had
different beak sizes on different islands
dependent on the food resources
available to them.
What is a theory?

In everyday use, the word "theory" often
means an untested hunch, or a guess without
supporting evidence.
 But for scientists, a theory has nearly the
opposite meaning.
 A theory is a well-substantiated
explanation of an aspect of the natural
world. It can incorporate laws, hypotheses
and facts.
What is evolution:
Evolution is the genetic change of
organisms over time.
 This genetic change may give the
organism a survival and/or
reproductive advantage in their local
environments.
 Population increases usually
accompany these changes and this
increased rate of survival is known as
natural selection.

The Theory of Evolution:
Supporters of the theory of evolution believe
that all living things developed from one
simple form of life.

From this ‘unknown’ ancestor
organisms adapted according to their
environment and gave birth to the
diverse species seen in the fossil
record.
The Theory of Evolution:

There are four essential requirements of
evolution:
– V = Variation: All life forms vary genetically
within a population. It is this genetic variation
upon which selection works.
– I = Inheritance: Genetic traits are inherited
from parents and are passed on to offspring.
– S = Selection: Organisms with traits that are
favorable to their survival get to live and pass on
their genes to the next generation.
– T = Time: Evolution takes time. Evolution can
happen in a few generations, but major change,
such as speciation, often takes long periods of
time.
The Theory of Evolution:

There are also four ways in which evolution
occurs:
– Mutation: a change in an organisms DNA usually
caused by an error in repair or duplication
– Migration: occurs when an organism inserts its
DNA in a different species pool
– Genetic Drift: random changes in gene
frequencies of a species (could be caused by
environmental factors)
– Natural Selection: process in which some
individuals have genetically-based traits that
improve survival or reproduction and and thus
have more offspring
The Theory of Creation:
Many people believe in creationism.
 This is the belief that man (and all
other beings) were placed on earth by
a higher being, God.
 For many this belief is grounded in the
book of Genesis.

– Chapter 1, Verse 27: “So God created man
in his own image, in the image of God
created them; male and female created
them.”
The Theory of Creation:

Believers in creation suggest that the major
plants and animals on earth were placed
on the earth in their final form.
 This also suggests that man/women were
placed on the earth in his/her current fully
human form.
 In this view, earth was not a spontaneous
creation but rather a specific and planned
event by our creator.
Theories on the Origin of
Humankind – Pre-Darwinism

Diluvial Theory:
– supported the Bible
– fossils of extinct animals formed by Noah’s flood

Objections:
– no single event like Flood could account for
progression of fossils in layers, each lower level is
older
– discovery of pre-flood fossils related to animals
living after the flood
Theories on the Origin of
Humankind – Pre-Darwinism

Catastrophe Theory – George Cuvier
(1769-1832)
– explained sequence of fossil layers by proposing a
corresponding series of major catastrophes
interspersed with periods of calm when plant and
animal populations restocked the Earth
– Noah’s flood just one of many catastrophes
(between 27-32)

Objection:
– fossil record looks like “jerky” catastrophes but
change was much more gradual
Contemporary Creationism

Intelligent Design
– promotes the idea that natural processes
and living things are best explained by an
intelligent cause and not undirected,
Darwinian natural selection

Common Objection: not scientifically
verifiable, should not be considered a
“scientific theory”
What is the big deal anyways?

Why was (is) the theory of evolution so
controversial?
– At the time of Darwin’s publication of the Origin of
Species (1859) creation was the most widely
accepted version of how the earth and all life on it
was created.
– To many it seemed that the theory of evolution
was an attempt to contradict religious belief.
– But, Darwin himself was deeply religious.
– The idea that humans came from apes was also
offensive to some people.
Misconceptions about the theory
of Evolution:
1.
Evolution is a theory about the origin of
life.
Misconceptions continued:
2. Evolution is like a climb up a ladder of
progress; organisms are always getting
better.
Misconceptions continued:
3. Evolution means that life changed ‘by
chance’.
Misconceptions continued:
4. Natural selection involves organisms
‘trying’ to adapt.
Misconceptions continued:
5. Natural selection gives organisms what
they ‘need’.
Origin of Species Synopsis
1.
2.
3.
IF you have creatures that vary…
IF there is a struggle for life that killed
most species that ever lived…
IF the few that do survive pass on
whatever genes helped them to
survive…
THEN YOU GET…
The Evolutionary Algorithm:

If you have:
– Variation
– Inheritance
– Selection
And
- Time

Then you get evolution
Activity:

Turn to page 43 of your text book, you will
find the progression of the human skull chart,
take a few minutes to read it over.

Think about this question:

At what point in ‘the evolution of humans’
do you believe that these primates begin
to become human? (Ex. when they begin
to walk on two feet or use tools) Why?
Movie Clip
Some anthropologists like to compare
humans with the more positive aspects
of ape behaviour. (Emotions, playing,
innovation, communication, etc.)
 Watch the following video clip. Does
anything in it surprise you? Why or why
not?

Activity:

Read pages 39 to 44 of your textbook
to recap some of what you have just
learned about evolution and answer
the following questions in full
sentences in your notebook.
Questions: 1 and 2 on page 44.
Questions: 1, 2, 4 on page 45.