31 Jan 2011

Evolution:
change over time

• theory, as compared here, implies considerable evidence in support of a formulated

general principle explaining the operation of certain phenomena (theory of evolution)

Kind of change:
• inherited vs non-inherited
• small vs large (micro/macro evolutionary changes)
• slow vs fast

Changes between reptiles and mammals

• Position of jaw joint changes from quadrate-articular to dentalry-sqamosal as middle
ear ossicles form. Probably associated with improved hearing allowing location and
capture of prey out of line sight
• Secondary palate develops separating

“transitional forms” & mosaic evolution

• not all parts of an organism change at the same rate or time
• an organism that is “intermediate” or “transitional” with respect to one character, may
not be “intermediate” or “transitional” with prospect to some other character
• ancestral vs derived (changed) characters

Conditions favoring fossilization

• aquatic (vs terrestrial) habitat0- higher probability of burial
• Presence of hard parts- greater resistance to destruction by decay or predator
• large population- higher probability of sampling population
• enduring (vs transient) population- higher probability of sampling population over time
• rapid burial- less change of destruction by decay or predators
• warm and humid (vs cool and dry) climate- extensive shallow seas available for burial
under water & for sedimentary rock formation
• continueal submergence (vs uplift)

Punctuated equilibrium hypothesis

Eldredge & Gould 1972
• the evolution of a lineage follows a pattern of long intervals in which there is little or no
change (stasis or eq) punctuated by short periods of rapid speciation during which new
species etc arise
• stasis is a real pattern in fossil record, not an artifact

What else causes change in population?

 31 Jan 2011

• genetic drift- random change in small population. Genes going to next generation may
not be representative sample of all the genes in the species, so a small isolated
population may differ from population as a whole
• frequencies of human blood groups in isolated communities

Major point of natural selection

1. more organisms produced than survive, but populations remain relatively constant
2. thus competition for resources must be occurring

Evolutionary thought after Darwin

• three major time periods:
• romantic period (1860-1903)
• agnostic period (1903-1937)
• period of modern synthesis(1937-modern)

Modern synthesis (1937-present)

• development of population genetics
• fisher, haldance, sewall, wright, castle, hardy, weingberg, unite darwinain natural
synthesis

EVO-DEVO= evolution and development

• active area of modern research

Homeotic Genes
• each cell contains DNA in its chromosomes
• DNA in every cell can produce ALL the character of that organisms
• turns on genes for certain genetic activity

Special Creationism:
• “kinds” do not change through time
• “kinds” were created independently of one another by separate and independent acts
of creation by a designer
• “kinds” were created quite recently

Intelligent Design
• argument from design
• complex structures are “irreducibly” complex. If any one part is removed, the structure
ceases to function
• Ergo, complex structures can only occur through “design”
• Designer: considered to be god
• Presence of “design” implies existence of “designer”