Definition of evolution

Evolution is the change in the inherited

characteristics of biological populations
over successive generations. Evolutionary
processes give rise to diversity at every
level of biological organisation, including
species, individual organisms and
molecules such as DNA and proteins
Evolution: changes through time
1. Species accumulate difference
2. Descendants differ from their
ancestors
3. New species arise from existing
ones
Genetic Variation and
Evolution
A brief history of evolution
Charles Darwin was born on
February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury,
England.
From 1831 to 1836 Darwin served as
naturalist aboard the H.M.S. Beagle on
a British science expedition around the
world.
He observed much variation in related
or similar species of plants and animals
that were geographically isolated from
each other.
These observations were the basis for
his ideas.
Darwin presumed that populations of individuals
changed over time, and, in 1844, he developed
the concept of the driving force for evolution. It
wasnt until many years later that he published
his idea.
I have called this principle, by which
each slight variation, if useful, is
preserved, by the term Natural Selection.
Charles Darwin from "The Origin of Species,
1859
A brief history of evolution
Natural selection: proposed by Darwin as
the mechanism of evolution
individuals have specific inherited
characteristics
they produce more surviving offspring
the population includes more individuals
with these specific characteristics
the population evolves and is better
adapted to its present environment
Natural Selection
Darwin knew nothing of
genes, but what he did have
were two observations and a
little inference that provided
the motive force for
evolution.
Darwin: Evolution is descent with modification
Darwins theory
for how long
necks evolved
in giraffes
Survival of
the fittest.
Evolution of species
Based on 3 mechanisms
1.Sources of variation

2.Method of selection for those
characteristics that would be passed on

3.A mechanism for retaining changes
1. Sources of variation
Genetic diversity thru
mutations that are not lethal
Physical or behavioral traits

Sexual reproduction between
genetically different
individuals
2. Method of selection
Reproductive fitness is the
method of selection.
Competition, escaping from
and eluding predators
Finding a good mate
Artificial selection: a breeder selects for desired
characteristics
3. Maintenance of Variation
Frequency-dependent selection: depends
on how frequently or infrequently a
phenotype occurs in a population
Negative frequency-dependent selection: rare
phenotypes are favored by selection
Positive frequency-dependent selection:
common phenotypes are favored; variation is
eliminated from the population
Strength of selection changes through time
Maintenance of
Variation
Fitness of a phenotype does
not depend on its frequency
Environmental changes lead
to oscillation in selection