11/25/2015 OrganicEvolutionTheories(CompleteNotes)

Theories of Organic Evolution (Complete Notes)

UNIT 11 409 Views

The theory of Organic evolution explains convincing the origin of life. It also explains how the wide

variety of the plants and animals came into existence in the world. According to this theory, the world has

been evolved and not been created.

What are the branches of Life Sciences

Life originated spontaneously in the remote past from non-living inorganic substances. These substances
reacted to organic compounds. The organic compounds developed into colloidal systems capable of

stepwise improvements in order to give rise to simple life.

BasicTheoriesofOrganicEvolution:
In the organic evolutions, there are Contents [hide]
Different theories of evolution. But Five
1 Basic Theories of Organic Evolution:
theories are accepted universally. They are
1.1 1. Theory of Inheritance of acquired characters (lamarckism):
1. Theory of inheritance of acquired 1.1.1 Neo-lamarkists:
characters (lamarckisam) 1.2 2. The theory of natural selection (Darwinism)(in 1859)

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2. Theory of natural selection (Darwinism) 1.3 3. Modern synthetic theory of evolution:

3. Modern synthetic theory of evolution, 1.3.1 (a). Mutation:

1.3.2 (b). Variation (or) Recombination:

4. Weismanners germ plasma theory ,
1.3.3 (C). Heredity:
5. Hugo devries mutation theory
1.3.4 (D). Natural Selection:
1. Theory of Inheritance of 1.3.5 (E). Isolation:
acquiredcharacters(lamarckism):
1.4 (4). Weismanns Germ-plasm theory:
Lamarckism is the first theory of organic
1.4.1 Objections:
evolution, proposed by jean Baptiste de
1.4.2 Significance:
Lamarck(1744-1829), a French biologist.
1.5 (5). Hugo de vries Mutation theory:
Lamarck scientists famous book is
1.5.1 Mutation Theory:
philosophy zoologique (1809)
1.5.2 Objections:
He announced in 1801 a theory of organic
2 Brush Back Your Basics with this MCQ:
evolution which has been known as
3 Theories of Organic Evolution
Theory of Inheritance of Acquired
Characters.

His evolutionary ideas are:

Internal forces of life tend to increase the size of the organism because of an inner want new

structures appear.

Direct environmental effect over living organisms

Use of disuse

Inheritance of acquired characters

Example:

1. Giraffe-due to lake of surface vegetation gradually.

2. Aquatic birds they had to go to water due to lack of food etc; some structures web between the toes
developed in them wings for fly gradually reduced.

3. Flat fishes (deep sea fishes)

4. Whales lost their hind limbs

5. The Wanding birds (eg:-jacana) developed its long legs through generations of sustained stretching to
keep the body above the water level.

Neolamarkists:

The evolutionists who support the Lamarckian theory of inheritance of acquired characters come under

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the heading neo-Lamarckian they are:

Cope (1840-1897)

Giared(1846-1908)

Packard, spencer & mc bride

2.Thetheoryofnaturalselection(Darwinism)(in1859)
Charles Darwin explain natural selection in his book the origin of species (full title on the origin of

species by means of natural selection (or) the preservation of favored races in the struggle for life)

Deoxyribonucleic acid its Types : A-DNA, B-DNA and Z-DNA

Enzymes involved in DNA Replication

It includes the following elements:

The universal occurrence of variation

Over production (rapid multiplication ):

1. Every species, in the absence of environmental check, tends to increase in a geometrical manner.

2. A salmon produces 28000 eggs in a season.

3. Female rabbit gives birth to six young ones in one litter and produces 4 litters in a year (6 months old

rabbit is capable of reproduction. due to environmental checks it will be control

4. Elephants ,in the absence of any checks have 21 million descendants of the end of 800 years

Struggle for existence :

1. Intraspecific struggle between same species

2. Interspecific struggle between different species

3. Environmental struggle due to earthquakes, tidal waves, bursting of volcanoes are all causes for
killing large populations.

4. Survival of the fittest: in the struggle for existence, majority die out due to fact those few survival

have necessary advantageous variations. This idea of the survival of the fittest is the core theory of

natural selection.

5. inheritance of useful variations: The organisms after getting fitted to the surroundings transmit their
useful variations to the next generation, while non-useful variations are eliminated.

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1. Neo-Darwinism: Neo-Darwinisms a modified form of Darwinism.

2. Neo-Darwinist are:

1. H.huxely,

2. S.A.Geray,

3. Herbert Spencer,

4. haeckel & D.S.Jordan,

5. Weismann (Germ-plasm theory)

3.Modernsynthetictheoryofevolution:
This theory is the result of the work of no. of scientists, namely T.Dobzhansky, R.A.Fisher, J.B.S.Haldan,
Swall wright, Earnst mayr & G.L.Stebbins. Stebbins in his book Process of organic evolution discussed

the synthetic theory.

It includes the following factors:

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1. Mutation,

2. variation (or) Re combination,

3. Heredity,

4. Natural selection,

5. Isolation

(a).Mutation:

Due to gene mutation (or) point mutation, the chemistry of gen (DNA) alter & able to change its

phenotypic effect.

Most of the mutant genes are recessive to normal gene and these are able to express phenotypically

only in homozygous condition thus, gene mutation tend to produce variations in the offspring.

(b).Variation(or)Recombination:

The production of gene combination containing the same individual, produce heterozygous individuals

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(meiosis)

Random mixing of chromosomes from two parents during sexual reproduction to produce a new

individual.

The exchange b/w chromosomal pairs of particular alleles during meiosis, called crossing over, to

produce new gene combinations.

Chromosomal mutations such as deletion, duplication, inversion, translocation and polyploidy also
result in variation.

(C).Heredity:

The transmission of variation from parent to offspring is an imp mechanism of evolution, favored in the

struggle for existence, to benefit from the advantageous characteristics of their parents.

(D).NaturalSelection:

Natural selection does not produce genetic change, but once it has occurred it acts to encourage some

genes over others. Further natural selection creates new adaptive relations b/w population and
environment by favoring some gene combinations, rejecting other and constantly modifying and

molding the pool.

(E).Isolation:

Isolation of organism of a species into several populations (or) groups under psychic, physiological (or)

geographical factors is supposed to be one of the most significant factors is supposed to be one of the

most significant factors responsible for evolution.

(4).WeismannsGermplasmtheory:
August Weismam(1834-1914) was a neo-Darwinian biologist who proposed the germplasm theory in his
book Das Keimplasm

1. Theory based on two kinds of living bodies they are Germplasm (protoplasm of germ cells such as
37
Shares sperms and ova) and the somatoplasm (Protoplasm of somatic (or) body cells). The Germplasm is
22
responsible for the development of reproductive ports and remains in the organism, the development of
11
reproductive parts and remains in the organism, the development of reproductive parts and remains in
4

the organism, sealed and secluded form the somatoplasm which develops out of the Germplasm.

2. Somatoplasm is discontinuous entity and so any variation in it cant be inherited. The somatoplasm

doesnt influence the Germplasm. So, Germplasm is immortal (perpetuated from generation to

generation through meiosis) & Somatoplasm is mortal, it perishes with the death of an organisms.

3. In 1904, Weizmann proposed a special particle the idioplasm (or) determinant , which is distinct part
of an organism is represented in the sec cells. Each determinant to be made up of still smaller units
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called biophores. These determinants are localized in the chromosomes of the nucleus.

4. .In apposition of Lamarcks inheritance of acquired characters, Weismann introduced in the idea of

parallel induction According to this concept, the stimulus affects simultaneously the germ &
somatoplasm.

5. Polymorphism, Weismann developed hypothesis of germinal selection. He said that. There are many

no. of determiners struggling for expression within the Gemplasm and finally one set is selected out by

the environment.

Objections:

Lacks any experimental support,

Its failure for explaining causes of asexual reproduction and regeneration.

Significance:

The idea of continuity and immortality of Germplasm

Understanding of the concept of particulate inheritance of Mendel.

It provides some clue about genes (determinants )

Proposes the division of Germplasm & Somatoplasm during cleavage of the zygote

(5).HugodevriesMutationtheory:
Hugo de vries in his book Die mutation theovie (1901) proposed the mutation theory-

He observed on evening primrose Oenothera lamarkiana . He studied this plant in wild forms for

many years continuously and observed cartain spontaneous changes in some of these wild plants.

MutationTheory:

Devries (1901), his theory states that evolution is a jerky process where new varieties and species are

formed by mutation that functions as raw material of evolution.

Salient features are:

Mutation, sports (discontinuous variat6ions) are the raw material of evolution.

Mutation appears all of a sudden.

Mutations do not revolve around the mean or normal character of these species.

The mutation can appear in no. of individuals of a species.

All mutations are inheritable.

Mutations in all conceivable directions.

Useful mutations are selected by nature, lethal mutation from a single mutation.

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Evolution is a gerky and discontinuous Process.

Importance of mutations in evolution:

De-Vries stressed on the randomness of variation, where as Darwin considered the adaptiveness of the
variation in evolution.

De Vries stated that new species arise by sudden jump, called mutation, where as Darwin considered
that new species arise by the cumulation of gradual fluctuating variations in a series of generations.

H. Morgan observed mutations in Drosophila melanogaster and confirmed the mutation theory.

Objections:

It couldnt explain the existence of discontinuity

Devise described about certain numerical & structural changes in the chromosomes, but in O.Gigas
mutant was found later to be due to polyploidy.

Provide raw material for other forces to act upon it.

It was not satisfied explanation of the development of mimicry, mutual dependence of flowers and
pollinating insects.

Reference: New Scientist

BrushBackYourBasicswiththisMCQ:
TheoriesofOrganicEvolution
This Quiz section is prepared from Evolutionary Biology chapter, From the Unit-11. Try to solve the
problems. All the Best

Start

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