Evolution-and-Origin (Science)

ORIGIN
OF
EVOLUTION
OBJECTIVES
•Show patterns of descent with modification
from common ancestors to produce the
organismal diversity observed today
•Trace the development of evolutionary
thought
Evolution and
Origin of
Biodiversity:
Patterns of
Descent with
Modification
INTRODUCTION
•Species, in biology, classification
comprising related organisms that share
common characteristics and are capable of
interbreeding.
•Ernst Mayer’s definition: “Species are
groups of interbreeding natural populations
that are reproductively isolated from other
such groups.”
The modes of
speciation:
• occurs when some members of a population become
geographically separated from the other members
thereby preventing gene flow. Examples of geographic
barriers are bodies of water and mountain ranges
A. Allopatric speciation or geographic

speciation
• occurs when the groups that evolved to be separate
species are geographic neighbors. Gene flow occurs but
with great distances is reduced. There is also abrupt
change in the environment over a geographic border
and strong disruptive selection must also happen
B. Parapatric speciation
• occurs when members of a population that initially occupy
the same habitat within the same range diverge into two or
more different species. It involves abrupt genetic changes
that quickly lead to the reproductive isolation of a group of
individuals. Example is change in chromosome number
C. Sympatric speciation
Development
of
Evolutionary Thought
Linnaean System of
Classification
The most influential early
classification system was
developed by Carolus
Linnaeus. In fact, all modern
classification systems have
their roots in Linnaeus’
system. Linnaeus was a
Swedish botanist who lived
during the 1700s. He is known
as the “father of taxonomy.”
Linnaeus tried to describe and
classify the entire known
natural world. In 1735, he
published his classification
system in a work called
Systema Naturae (“System of
Nature”).
The taxa are below:
• Kingdom - This is the highest taxon in Linnaean
taxonomy, representing major divisions of organisms.
Kingdoms of organisms include the plant and animal
kingdoms.
• Phylum (plural, phyla) - This taxon is a division of a

kingdom. Phyla in the animal kingdom include
chordates (animals with an internal skeleton) and
arthropods (animals with an external skeleton)
•Class - This taxon is a division of a phylum. Classes
in the chordate phylum include mammals and
birds.
•Order - This taxon is a division of a class. Orders in

the mammal class include rodents and primates.
•Family - This taxon is a division of an order.

Families in the primate order include hominids
(apes and humans) and hylobatids (gibbons).
•Genus - This taxon is a division of a family.
Genera in the hominid family include Homo
(humans) and Pan (chimpanzees).
•Species - This taxon is below the genus and

the lowest taxon in Linnaeus’ system.
Species in the Pan genus include Pan
troglodytes(common chimpanzees) and
Pan paniscus (pygmy chimpanzees).
Evolution of Darwin’s Theory
It took Darwin years to form his theory of evolution
by natural selection. His reasoning went like this:
• 1. Like Lamarck, Darwin assumed that species could change over
time. The fossils he found helped convince him of that.
• 2. From Lyell, Darwin saw that Earth and its life were very old.
Thus, there had been enough time for evolution to produce the
great diversity of life Darwin had observed.
• 3. From Malthus, Darwin knew that populations could grow

faster than their resources. This “overproduction of offspring”
led to a “struggle for existence,” in Darwin’s words.
• 4. From artificial selection, Darwin knew that some offspring
have variations that occur by chance, and that can be inherited. In
nature, offspring with certain variations might be more likely to
survive the “struggle for existence” and reproduce. If so, they would
pass their favorable variations to their offspring.
• 5. Darwin coined the term fitness to refer to an organism9s relative

ability to survive and produce fertile offspring. Nature selects the
variations that are most useful. Therefore, he called this type of
selection natural selection.
• 6. Darwin knew artificial selection could change domestic

species over time. He inferred that natural selection could also
change species over time. In fact, he thought that if a species
changed enough, it might evolve into a new species.
History
on the
Study of
Evolution
Scientist who Contributed
to Shaping and Developing
Evolutionary Thought
•1738 Carolus Linnaeus published his system of
classification of species.
•1795 James Hutton proposed the idea that the

Earth was shaped by gradual forces.
•1796 Georges Cuvier published his theory
that fossils were from species that had become
extinct.
•1798 Thomas Robert Malthus' Essay on the

Principle of Population is published.
•1809 Jean-Baptiste Lamarck’s theory of

evolution published — Darwin born.
• 1830 Charles Lyell proposed his geological theory
of uniformitarianism.
• 1831 Charles Darwin set out on the voyage of the

Beagle.
• 1859 Darwin published the Origin of Species.

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ORIGIN

A. Allopatric speciation or geographic

• Phylum (plural, phyla) - This taxon is a division of a

•Order - This taxon is a division of a class. Orders in

•Family - This taxon is a division of an order.

•Species - This taxon is below the genus and

• 3. From Malthus, Darwin knew that populations could grow

• 5. Darwin coined the term fitness to refer to an organism9s relative

• 6. Darwin knew artificial selection could change domestic

•1795 James Hutton proposed the idea that the

•1798 Thomas Robert Malthus' Essay on the

•1809 Jean-Baptiste Lamarck’s theory of

• 1831 Charles Darwin set out on the voyage of the

• 1859 Darwin published the Origin of Species.

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