Notes- Evidences of Evolution (Heredity and Evolution)
Origin
of Life:
Evolution can explain formation
of many species ultimately from a single
species in the past. But origin of life (first
species) needs further explanation.
Oparin and Haldane proposed biochemical
theory of evolution:
Chemical
evolution:
Formation of simple organic substances (amino acids,
glucose, nucleotides) from inorganic
substances CH4, NH3, H2S on
primitive Earth.
Biological/ Organic
Evolution:
Formation of first primitive cell using organic
molecules. Evolution of different forms of
life forms from simple unicellular
prokaryotic organism
Miller and Urey
experiment: They simulated primitive earth.
Primitive reducing atmosphere Gases like H2S, NH3, CH4
Evaporation from hot oceans Boiling water in flask
Lightening Electrodes
Rainfall Condensation using cold water
They showed formation of simple
substances in water taken in experimental
set up and confirmed Harold and Urey’s theory.
Evolution and
classification
Both evolution and classification
are interlinked.
1. Classification of species is
reflection of their evolutionary relationship.
2. The more characteristic two
species have in common the more closely
they are related (and will be placed in
same group during classification).
3. The more closely they are
related, the more recently they have a common
ancestor.
4. Similarities among organisms
allow us to group them together and to
study their characteristic.
TRACING
EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS
(Evidences of
Evolution)
I.Morphological
and anatomical evidences. External and internal structures
are compared to find out
evolutionary relationships.
A.Homologous
Organs
: These
are the organs that have same basic structural
plan and origin but different
functions.
Homologous organs provides
evidence for evolution by telling us that
they are derived from the same
ancestor. (Divergent Evolution)
Examples
:
Organs
Function
Forelimb of Horse (Running)
Wings of bat (flying)
Paw of a cat (walk/scratch/attack)
Example
from plants
Tendrils in pea
plant (climbing/support)
Thorns in bougainvillea (protection)
(both are stem
modifications)
B.
Analogous Organs : These are the organs
that have different origin
and structural plan
but perform same function.
Analogous organs
indicate towards Convergent Evolution
i.e. structures derived
from different ancestors adapt to perform same
function.
Example
: Organs
Function
Wings of bat ® elongated fingers
with skin folds Flying
Wings of bird ® Feathery covering
along the arm
Example
from plants
Spines in Cactus
(modified leaf)
Thorns in Bouganvilea
(modified stem) Protection
II. Fossils
: (Palaeontological
evidences)
Fossils are preserved
body parts or traces of living organisms of the past.
ü
To study and compare structural features of extinct organisms in
order to
find evolutionary
relationship, we study fossils.
ü Fossil
Archeaopteryx possess features of reptiles as well as birds. This
suggests that birds have evolved
from reptiles.
Examples
of Fossils
AMMONITE -
Fossil-invertebrate
TRILOBITE -
Fossil-invertebrate
KNIGHTIA -
Fossil-fish
RAJASAURUS - Fossil
dinosaur skull
Determining
age of fossils:
I. Deeper the
fossil, older it is.
1. ...........................
2. ...........................
Recent 3. ...........................
4. ...........................
5. ..........................
6. ..........................
Older
II. Detecting the
ratios of different isotopes of the same element in the
Fossil material
i.e. Radio-carbon dating (C-14 dating)
III. Molecular Phylogeny (Molecular Evidence)
It is based on the idea that changes in DNA during reproduction are the
basic events in evolution
Organisms which are more distantly related will accumulate greater
differences in their DNA than closely related organisms.
So we look for differences in DNA to find out evolutionary relationships.
Evolution of New organs/ structures
Evolution takes place
in stages i.e. bit by bit over generations.
A. Usefulness/Fitness advantage in
Intermediate stages.
Evolution
of Eyes
Evolution of complex
organs is not sudden it occurs due to minor
changes in DNA, however takes
place bit by bit over generations.
Flat worm has rudimentary
eyes
Insects have compound
eyes
Humans have binocular
eyes
But these eyes have differnces in structure and hence have different
ancestoral origin.
B.Preadaptation/
Functional Advantage of Intermediate stages.
Evolutions
of feathers
Feathers ® provide insulation in cold weather but later they might
become useful for
flight.
Example
: Dinosaurs had feathers, but could not fly using feathers.
Birds seem to have
later adapted the feathers to flight.
Evolution
by Artificial Selection : Humans have been a powerful
agent in modifying
wild species to suit their own requirement through
out ages by using
artificial selection. eg (i) From wild cabbage many
varieties like broccoli,
cauliflower, red cabbage, kale, cabbage and
kohlrabi were obtained by
artificial selection. (ii) Wheat (many varieties
obtained due to artificial
selection).
Wild cabbage:
Broccoli: Arrested flower development
Cauliflower: Has sterile flowers
Cabbage:With short distance between the
leaves
Kale: With larger leaves
Kohlrabi: With swollen parts
Evolution: Ladder vs Tree
Evolution can not be equated with progress (ladder) but aims at producing
more diversity (Tree).
HUMAN EVOLUTION
Although there is
great diversity of human forms all over the world yet
all humans are a
single species.
GENETIC
FOOTPRINTS OF HUMANS
Hundreds/thousand
of years ago Earliest members arose in Africa.
They migrated to many
places namely East Asia, South Africa, Philippines,
Island of Indonesia,
West Asia, Central Asia, Australia, Eurasia.
They did not go in a single line
They went forward and backward
Moved in and out of Africa
Sometimes came back to mix with each other.
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