Day 16 March 20th Chapters 8 and 9

400 million years between humans and our fish ancestors

How many generations do you think there are between humans and our fish ancestors?
1. 2. 3. 4. Tens Hundreds Thousands Millions

How many generations do you think there are between humans and our fish ancestors?
1. 2. 3. 4. Tens Hundreds Thousands Millions

What made humans different?

Moved from inland Africa to the shores Collected shellfish, ate fish (DHA) Your brain is mostly composed of fat! Mammals have placenta Mammals drink milk

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/news/060201_zebrafish

Five primary lines of evidence:

1. The fossil record 2. Biogeography

3. Comparative anatomy and embryology

4. Molecular biology 5. Laboratory and field experiments

8.17 The fossil record documents the process of natural selection.

Although it has been central to much documentation of the occurrence of evolution, it is a very incomplete record

8.19 Comparative anatomy and embryology reveal common evolutionary origins.

Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919)

Chick embryos and human embryos both have gills because

1. They both need to breathe through the gills (while in the egg and placenta respectively) during development. 2. They both spend some time in the water where gills are useful. 3. They both share a common ancestor who had gills. 4. 1 and 3.

Chick embryos and human embryos both have gills because

1. They both need to breathe through the gills (while in the egg and placenta respectively) during development. 2. They both spend some time in the water where gills are useful. 3. They both share a common ancestor who had gills. 4. 1 and 3. NO!!! They receive oxygen through the umbilical cord!

Homologous Structures

Similarities common ancestor Differences adapted to environment

For example, look at the hands of four primates: tarsier, gibbon, chimpanzee, and human. Despite the similarities in their hands, the differences are what makes each most suitable for its way of life. The tarsier leaps and clings, and has large finger pads to help it do this. The gibbon swings from the trees, so has long, strong fingers for swinging. The chimpanzee may be able to manipulate very crude tools with its stubby thumb, but the humans thumb faces the forefinger, which provides dexterity for countless purposesfrom threading a needle to mountain climbingfrom carving wood to buttoning a shirt.

A human forearm, horses front leg, bats wing, and porpoises flipper have similar bone structure. What conclusions can we draw from the similarities in bone structure between these mammals?
1. Since each limb is used for different functions, these species must be unrelated evolutionarily. 2. Since each limb has a different shape, these species must be related evolutionarily. 3. Since each limb shares the same type of bone structure but performs different functions, these structures are the product of adaptive evolution. 4. Since each limb shares the same type of bone structure but performs different functions, these species cannot possibly be related evolutionarily.

A human forearm, horses front leg, bats wing, and porpoises flipper have similar bone structure. What conclusions can we draw from the similarities in bone structure between these mammals?
1. Since each limb is used for different functions, these species must be unrelated evolutionarily. 2. Since each limb has a different shape, these species must be related evolutionarily. 3. Since each limb shares the same type of bone structure but performs different functions, these structures are the product of adaptive evolution. 4. Since each limb shares the same type of bone structure but performs different functions, these species cannot possibly be related evolutionarily.

The human appendix serves no function.

Why are we all born with one?

Vestigial Organs A vestigial organ is a part of the body that serves no use. The appendix is one example of a vestigial organ; wings on an ostrich are another. The human body has several vestigial organs, including the tail bone, wisdom teeth and muscles in the ear.

Vestigial Structures

Convergent Evolution
Analogous structures all developed from different original structures.

8.20 Molecular biology reveals that common genetic sequences link all life forms.
The genetic code provides our fourth line of evidence that evolution occurs.

DNA Similarities and Differences

Related The

vs. unrelated individuals

more distantly you and another individual are related, the more your DNA differs.

Scientists ask the question Does race exist?

The Human Genome Project found all humans to have a 99.9 % similar genetic content and identity, but this is challenged by a new more detailed research suggesting a higher genetic diversity, with further medical and evolutionary implications.

DNA Similarity between Two Species

Compare

their DNA sequences for individual genes. Rhesus monkeys, 138 amino acids out of 146 are the same as those found in human hemoglobin.

In

Recency of Common Ancestry

Estimates of evolutionary relatedness made from: Comparative Anatomy Embryology The Fossil Record Molecular Clocks

8.21 Laboratory and field experiments enable us to watch evolution in progress.

A fifth line of evidence for the occurrence of evolution comes from multigeneration experiments and observations.

Changes in the Frequency of the Various Alleles

What do you think? Understanding evolution can help scientists find strategies to combat antibiotic and pesticide resistance.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

Chapter 9

Animals should maximize energy consumed and minimize energy used. 1) Behavior has adaptive value just like other traits.

Humans show an aversion to eating dirt

Humans like to eat foods high in fat and sugar.

humans prefer sweet, but not too sweet

The arrow on the graph below might represent which food source?

1. 2. 3. 4.

Doughnut humans prefer sweet, but not too sweet Saltines Carrot Hamburger

The arrow on the graph below might represent which food source?

1. 2. 3. 4.

Doughnut humans prefer sweet, but not too sweet Saltines Carrot Hamburger

Why do species have taste preferences?

Feeding Living

choices directly influence fitness.

and reproducing require energy. extraction of energy and acquisition of essential nutrients

Maximal

Natural

selection can shape feeding behavior.

Behaviors can be influenced by natural selection.

Feeding

behavior

Humans; starlings; shore crabs examples

Maternal

care

Mice example neglectful gene

Singing

behavior

Songbirds example complex songs

Effects of evolution by natural selection are all around.

Peacock

feathers Cryptic coloration observed in many species

BEHAVIOR is part of an organisms phenotype.
also under the influence of natural selection

Which characteristic below will be under the influence of natural selection in nature? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. A warblers song Food preferences Care of offspring Male or female attractiveness All of the above

Which characteristic below will be under the influence of natural selection in nature? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. A warblers song Food preferences Care of offspring Male or female attractiveness All of the above

Role of the Environment

The

degree to which a behavior depends upon the environment varies a great deal. or innate behaviors action pattern

Instincts

Fixed

Fixed Action Pattern

Triggered Requires

under certain conditions learning no

Does Once

not vary

started, runs to completion

Do you think humans have innate (fixed action) behaviors?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

Learning
Involves

behaviors that are altered and modified over time in response to past experiences variation among behaviors that require learning
Some are easy to learn Others are not

Tremendous

Prepared Learning
Behaviors that are learned easily and by all (or nearly all) individuals

Snake-fearing behavior of monkeys Acquisition of language in humans

Animals dont consciously try to maximize their reproductive success, yet they behave as if they do?

How do they do it?

Rules of Thumb
Relatively

easy-to-follow responses to cues that reliably lead to a desired outcome

Rules of Thumb
Pleasures,

success

incentives, and reproductive

Not

necessary for the animal to be consciously seeking that outcome

How do we know? Tricking animals

9.5 A general theory of kindness helps explain the evolution of apparent acts of altruism.
Does

unconditional love exist in the animal kingdom? behaviorsbehaviors that come at a cost to the individual doing the behavior while benefiting the recipient.

Altruistic

Darwin
Natural

selection generally works to produce selfish behavior. behavior is common.

Altruistic-appearing Fatal

to his theory?

Apparent Acts of Altruism

Kindness

selection

toward close relatives: kin

Kindness

toward unrelated individuals: reciprocal altruism

Hamiltons Rule
Altruistic-appearing

behavior will occur when the benefits to close relatives are greater than the cost to the individual performing the behavior. are really acting in their own genes best interests.

They

According to Hamiltons rule, if an individual could only help one person, who would they prefer to help?
1. 2. 3. 4. Son with a flat tire Aunt with a flat tire Cousin with a flat tire Stranger with a flat tire

According to Hamiltons rule, if an individual could only help one person, who would they prefer to help?
1. 2. 3. 4. Son with a flat tire Aunt with a flat tire Cousin with a flat tire Stranger with a flat tire

End day 18