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There are 3 major lines of evidence for evolution that we are going to look at:
There are 3 major lines of evidence for evolution that we are going to look at:
1. Comparative Anatomy
1. Comparative Anatomy
2. Fossils
2. Fossils
3. Molecular Analysis
3. Molecular Analysis
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy is just what it sounds like. It is a comparison of the anatomy of two or more organisms. This comparison can be done using live organisms, fossils, or through embryology.
Comparative anatomy is just what it sounds like. It is a comparison of the anatomy of two or more organisms. This comparison can be done using live organisms, fossils, or through embryology.
This comparison shows that humans, cats, whales, and bats all have the same number of bones in their upper appendages.
What does this comparison suggest?
What does this comparison suggest?
This similarity suggests that all four organisms share a common ancestor who passed down these homologous structures.
Embryology: a form of comparative anatomy that studies the similarities of fetal development.
Embryology: a form of comparative anatomy that studies the similarities of fetal development.
1.What similarities and differences do you see in these embryos?
2.At what stage (I, II, III) can you begin to classify these organisms?
3.Based on the embryonic development, what conclusions can you make?
Evolution of whales
Evolution of whales
Evidence suggests that whales came from land mammals
Evidence suggests that whales came from land mammals
Fossils
Fossils
Fossils can include bones, organisms encased in amber, frozen organisms, molds, casts...
Fossils can include bones, organisms encased in amber, frozen organisms, molds, casts...
Click both links below to go to read more about fossils and add to your notes
Click both links below to go to read more about fossils and add to your notes
How much carbon-14 is left at the 3rd half-life?
How much carbon-14 is left at the 3rd half-life?
1.25 g
Molecular analysis
Molecular analysis
Molecular evidence includes studying nucleic acids [DNA & RNA]
Molecular evidence includes studying nucleic acids [DNA & RNA]
This chart shows the SIMILARITY of nucleotide bases between organisms. The higher the similarity, the more closely related they are. In other words, they had a more recent common ancestor with each other than they do with the other organisms on the chart.
This chart shows the SIMILARITY of nucleotide bases between organisms. The higher the similarity, the more closely related they are. In other words, they had a more recent common ancestor with each other than they do with the other organisms on the chart.
This comparison is specifically for the number of amino acids that DIFFER from a human hemoglobin chain (what is hemoglobin?).
Which animal is most closely related to humans?
Note that this does not mean that humans evolved FROM that organism but rather that they shared a common ancestor more recently (probably 5-7 million years ago) than with the other organisms.
Using comparative anatomy and fossil evidence does this molecular conclusion make sense?
[Humans and chimpanzees (not shown) share about 98% of DNA]
Try this interactive activity to determine how birds evolved
Try this interactive activity to determine how birds evolved
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