Andrs Saravia

A01023253

Biology Outline 5.1 Evidence for Evolution

Fossil Record
Heritable characteristics are thecharacteristics that an organismpossesses due to
itsgenetic make-up.
Evolution is when heritable characteristics of a specieschange over time. So, if evolution
has taken place, we would expect to see these changes in an organism's characteristics.
The fossil record has been instrumental in observing and deducing the correct order of the
changes in certain species over time.
The correct chronological interpretationof fossils was made possible because of a better
understanding of Geology. In the 19thcentury, when Darwin and Wallace published their
findings, and the theory of evolution was firstproposed, geologists were able to interpret
the different rock strata in which fossils were found. The dating of those strataallowed the
chronological ordering and deduction as to which organism came first.
In the 20thcentury, with the help of radio isotopes, more accurate dating methods became
available, corroboratingthe chronology of the fossils. As shown above, in the case of the
horse,gradual changes over time are evidence of evolution.

Selective Breeding
Selective breeding, as practiced by humans for thousands of years, is a form of selection
and another bit of evidence for evolution. Contrary to natural selection, this form is
artificial.Humans select the animal or plant with the best characteristicsand try, through
crosses, to create a breed or a plant line that retains these desired characteristics. The

differences between the 'wild' ancestorand the present day organism (created through
artificial selection)can be enormous.
The difference between the two is that natural selection occurs in nature, butselective
breedingonly occurs when humans intervene.
When considering selective breeding of dogs itbecomes very obvious thatartificial
selection can cause evolution.
As shown in the case of dogs, following severalgenerations of selective breeding,
domesticated breeds can differ a lot from theirwild ancestors. Selective breeding
somehow also accelerates the evolutionary process, as evolutionary changes become
visiblein a much shorter time intervalthan might have occurred through natural selection.

Homologous Structures
Homologous meanshaving the same relation, relative position or structure. In biology, this
refers to something that issimilar in position, structure, and evolutionary origin, but not
necessarily in function. So, if a structure such as an arm is saidto be homologousto the
flipper of a dolphin, it means that these structures share the sameorigin and ancestor. It
does not mean that the structures have the same function.
Despite their different appearance and function, the human arm and the dolphin flipper
share a similar design with the same bones in each structure. This suggests that they
must have had a common ancestor, but the species diverged (evolved apart) over time to
be better adapted to their respective environment. This form of evolution is an example
ofadaptive radiation.
The dolphin flipper and human arm were successfulconcepts in evolution. Humans and
dolphins share this characteristic, also called a pentadactyl limb, with other mammals,
birds, amphibians and reptiles. This is also a good example ofdivergentevolution, where

there is an accumulation of differences between groups which led to the formation of new
species.
The opposite of a homologous structure is an analogous structure. Here the function may
be similar, but there is no similarity in the bone structure or common ancestor. A good
exampleof an analogous structure is the tail fin of an orcaand a shark.
When structures such as fins evolve over time but are analogous, itiscalledconvergent
evolution.

Continuous Variation and Species Divergence

Current estimates of the number of different species present on Earth range from 10 to 50
million. But, untilnow about 1.5 million species have been catalogued.
Populations of a species can gradually diverge into separate species by evolution.
The separation of a species is what is described as a speciation event - an event that
encourages the formation of new species.
On an archipelago, such speciation events would occur more frequently. Oceans and seas
form a natural barrier between the islandsand the single species that once inhabited all
islands will start to diverge slowly over time.
Related populations when isolated from each other due to geographical barriers, they
changeover time to be better adaptto their immediate environment.

Industrial Melanism
Evolution is about the interaction of the environment and the fitness of a population. If a
changein the environmentoccurs, only the best adapted and geneticallyfittest
individualswill survive.

A good example of how a change in the environment can precipitatean evolutionary

adaptation has been seen in the peppered moth, Biston betularia. This nocturnal moth is
active at night and roosts during the day. It willrest on trees and use the tree bark covered
with lichen as camouflage to remain undetected so that birds will not prey on it.