Names in group: ___________________________________________

Period: ____
Evidence of Evolution- Biology

Background: Darwin used evidence gathered from paleontology, geology, population studies, economics,
empirical evidence, and others to formulate his theory of “Descent with Modification”. Developing the sound
theory was the first step but evolution has been under constant scrutiny. There are many sources of evidence
to support evolution but these six are the major categories we will focus on.
- The Fossil Record
- Biogeography
- Developmental biology
- Anatomy
- Natural Selection is observed
- Biochemistry

Objective: To investigate fossils, biogeography, developmental biology, homologous, analogous, and vestigial
structures, and biochemistry to determine their significance in evolutionary history.

I. Fossils
Study the figure at right.
1. Which rock layer is the oldest? _____
2. Which rock layer is the youngest? _____
3. Which layer has the most complex organisms?______
4. Which layer contains the least complex?______
5. Explain what scientists learn about evolution when
comparing different fossils in different rock layers?
(Use terms like relatedness, extinction, transition etc.)
Be thoughtful. C’mon. Show your brain power.

II. Biogeography
1. The picture to the right shows the separation of
Pangaea into the major continents of today
(Crustaceous period). It includes the ancient
Gastornis in the upper left and the 3 modern
decedents, emu, ostrich, and Rhea in the
bottom right. How does plate tectonics
support evolution?

III. Embryology
 1. What is special about the embryonic development of the
organisms to the right? Explain how this could be used
as evidence to support evolution. Give an example!

IV. Anatomy: Homologous Structures

2. Carefully examine the drawings of the bones in Figure 1
on the next page. Look for similarities among the
various animals.
3. Color each bone of the human arm a different color. All
bones of the wrist (carpals) should be a single color, and the bone groups of the hand
(metacarpals and phalanges) should be another color. Then color the corresponding bones
(containing the same pattern) in each of the other animals the same color as the human bone
(i.e. if you color the humerus blue in the human, it should be blue in all the other animals).
 i. Describe at least two functions of each set of bones below:
Table 1 Animal Functions
Human
Whale
Cat
Bat
Bird
Crocodile
iii. Are the bones arranged the same way in each animal?

These structures on the following page are formed in similar ways during embryonic development and share
like arrangements; however, they have somewhat different forms and functions. They are called homologous
structures. What does the prefix “homo” mean? ______________

4. What does the term comparative morphology mean?

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 IV. Anatomy: Analogous structures
1. Examine the butterfly wing and the bird wing shown in Figure 2.

a. What function do these structures share? _____________________________________________________

b. How do the structures differ internally and externally? (give me three)

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c. Do birds and insects share any structural similarities that would suggest they are closely related in the single
tree of life that includes all organisms? Explain.
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Some apparently unrelated animals have organs with similar functions, yet are very different in structure and
form. These structures are called analogous structures.
d. Give me another example. ___________________________________________________.

e. The form of evolutionary change that causes this phenomenon is called____________________.

IV. Anatomy: Vestigial structures

Gradual changes have occurred through time that have, in some cases, reduced or removed the
function of some body structures and organs. The human appendix that is reduced and no longer digests
rough vegetation and pelvic bones of snakes that have no legs are examples of this phenomenon.
1. The cave fish and minnow shown in Figure 3 are related, but the cave fish is blind.
a. Explain why eyesight is not an important adaptation to life in a cave.
 __________________________________________________________
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_____________
b. Do the appearance of the cave fish and minnow suggest common ancestry? Explain.
__________________________________________________________
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_____________
Organs or structures that have lost their function in the organism and have become reduced in size
(because of efficiency) are called vestigial structures.

2. Read the list of human vestigial structures shown in Table 2. Suggest a possible function for each structure
and explain why it became vestigial (why that adaptation became less important for survival). Think
about organisms that are closely related to us and the functions they have for those structures (meaning
other mammals or specifically other primates). Record your answers in the table. For the second part,
analyze why this function is no longer needed (has a different structure taken over that function? Has the
environment changed?)
Table 2
Structure Possible Function(s) Why it is considered vestigial
Muscles that make hair
stand up

Coccyx (tail bone)

Muscles that move ears

VI. Natural Selection Observed

One of the greatest challenges facing evolution’s
reputation is the fact that for most of the theory’s
existence no one could give a recent example.
There are several examples we can now cite to
support the theory. One such example deals with
 communicable diseases caused by bacteria. Another, pictured to the left, deals with insecticide resistant
insects that eat crops.
1. Which insects live when crops are sprayed with insecticide?

2. How is this an example of evolution? (remember, evolution is the change in an organism’s genetics
over time)

VII. Biochemistry
A useful tool in helping to establish evolutionary links between species has been aided tremendously by
our ability to read DNA sequences. In doing so, we can compare species to establish phylogeny, or
evolutionary relationships. Below is a chart listing the similarities between the genes of humans and a
selection of other species on our planet.
1. Of the list, which are the top three you’d Gene Similarity Between Humans and Other Species
think we humans are most closely related to Dog 81%
in evolution based upon what you know Chimpanzee 98%
about them (type or organism, appearance, Rice 15%
etc.) Chicken 67%
Bacterium 10%
2. Based upon the percentage of similar genes, Mouse 79%
which three organisms do we have the most Fruit Fly 39%
genes in common with?
Zebrafish 63%
3. How do you lists compare?

Refer to the purple books(pg300, 304-305). If mutations cause traits to change, then one should be able to
look into differences in common genes to find out how distant the relationship between organisms is.

1. What protein is being analyzed in figure (17.8) ____________________________________________

2. What do you notice about the changes in the protein over time?______________________
3. How can studying biochemistry (DNA and Protein structure) be useful as evidence to support
evolution?

Name:__________________________________________________ 25pts.
Analysis and Interpretations
1. Explain how fossils are created. Also, explain are used to support the definition of evolution, being
“change over time”.

2. Explain why the homologous structures in Part III are evidence of close evolutionary relationships.
3. Explain the evolutionary relationship between the fin of a fish and the flipper of a whale (a mammal).
Are these homologous or analogous? Explain.

4. What does embryology tell us about the evolutionary relationship between organisms?

5. List two structures that you think are vestigial and why. These structures can be from any living
organism, not just humans. What type of structures are these?

6. If a scientist states that two species are closely related based on morphology (how they are built), how
would you expect their DNA sequences to compare to each other?