Biodiversity Evolution 1

Lamarck vs.
Darwin
Biodiversity and Evolution
What is a theory?
⚫ The most probable
explanation for a large
set of data based on the
best available evidence
⚫ Summarizes a hypothesis
or group of hypotheses
that have been supported
with repeated testing
What is a species?
What is a population?
⚫ Species – group of a
single type of organisms
that interbreed and are
reproductively isolated
⚫ White-tailed deer
⚫ Population – refers to a
group of organisms of a
particular species living in
a certain area.
⚫ White-tailed deer on Mt.
Nebo
Lamarck’s Theory
⚫ Jean Baptiste Lamarck: 1800’s
⚫ Believed:
⚫ inheritance of acquired
characteristics
▪ acquired changes were passed to
offspring
⚫ Law of Use and Disuse
▪ If a body part was used, it got
stronger
▪ If body part NOT used, it
deteriorated
⚫ Examples: Body builders or pierced
ears
⚫ Change Occurs Over Time
⚫ -natural transformation
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
⚫ Giraffes all had SHORT
necks originally
⚫ Giraffe’s Necks got
LONGER from stretching
for food
⚫ “Acquired” trait (long
necks) then passed to
offspring
⚫ Giraffe population
became long-necked
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
⚫ More examples
⚫ Traits Acquired During Ones Lifetime Would
Be Passed To Offspring
Clipped ears and tails of dogs could be passed to offspring!
Think Back to the bell work
question…
What is the difference between acquired
traits and inherited traits?
Which category would the length of a
giraffe’s neck fall under?
Which category would a dogs clipped ears or
tail fall under?
Why? What is the real difference between

these traits? Think about science and
biology.
Lamarck’s Mistakes
⚫ Was he correct??
⚫ NO!
⚫ Traits are passed down from one
generation to the next by GENES, not by
an individual’s life experiences or
activities
⚫ Lamarck did NOT know how traits were
inherited (Traits are passed through
genes)
⚫ Genes Are NOT Changed By Activities In
Life
⚫ Change Through Mutation Occurs Before
An Organism Is Born
Voyage of the Beagle
Charles Darwin
⚫ Born Feb. 12, 1809
⚫ Joined Crew of HMS
Beagle, 1831
⚫ Naturalist
⚫ 5 Year Voyage around
world
⚫ Astounded By Variety of
Life
Voyage of the Beagle
During His Travels, Darwin Made

Numerous Observations And
Collected Evidence That Led Him
To Propose A Revolutionary
Hypothesis About The Way Life
Changes Over Time
Darwin’s Belief’s
⚫ Survival of the fittest OR
natural selection
⚫ Food and resources are
limited
⚫ So organisms have to
COMPETE to get them
(lions fight for food,
space, mates …)
• OVER PRODUCE too many
organisms
• Not all offspring will survive
only the MOST FIT (not
always the biggest or
strongest!)
What happened to the
giraffe’s?
⚫ Survival of the fittest or natural
selection
⚫ Natural selection said the giraffes
with short necks had less food to
eat
⚫ Why?
▪ the food resources changed to leaves only
on the upper branches
⚫ What happened?
▪ short necks could not reach upper branches
and did not survive (couldn’t pass on genes)
▪ Long neck giraffes survived & reproduced
because they were able to reach the food
Life is good. I
never want The trees are
anything to
getting taller &
change.
we aren’t. We
need to
stretch our
necks to reach
the food
Lamarck
I am so glad
Junior here
doesn’t have to
go through the
MUST KEEP stretching
STRETCHIN because he was
G!! born with a long
neck ☺
Evidence of
Evolution
⚫ Fossil Records
⚫ Molecular Records (Carbon Dating
and DNA)
⚫ Embryology
⚫ Anatomical Records
Fossil Records
Fossils are the preserved remains, tracks, or
traces of once-living organisms
Robert Hooke in 1668- 1st to propose that
fossils are the remains of plants & animals.
Provides the most direct evidence for
macroevolution
Missing Links
Ardi (Ardipithecus ramidus) : stood about 47

inches tall and weighed about 110 pounds.
Took 15 years to unearth.
Lived 4.4 million years ago
Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis) : 40 % complete skeleton.
Lived 3.2 million years ago
◼ Fossils have been
found linking all
the major groups
◼ The forms linking

mammals to
reptiles are
particularly well
known
Fig. 13.4 Whale

“missing links”
Archaeopteryx. The most primitive known
bird. Lived ~150 million years ago.
More Missing
Links
Ambulocetus: The walking
whale. This animal could walk
as well as swim. It lived ~50
million years ago.
Fossil Records
⚫ Relative Dating (aka

Law of Superposition)
by Nicolaus Steno
Molecular Record
◼ New alleles (genes in DNA)
arise by mutations and
they come to
predominance through
favorable selection
◼ Thus, evolutionary changes
involve a continual
accumulation of genetic
changes
◼Distantly-related organisms accumulate a
greater number of evolutionary differences
than closely-related ones
The greater the
evolutionary distance
Fig. 13.5 Molecules

reflect evolutionary
divergence
The greater the number

of amino acid differences
Embryology
◼ Similar structural forms can be seen in
early stages of development of different
organisms.
Anatomical Record
◼ Similar structural forms can be seen in
various living organisms
◼ Ex: Homologous structures, Analogous structures and
Vestigial structures
◼ All vertebrates share a basic set of developmental instructions
Relict
developmental
forms
◼ Homologous structures: Have same structure
but not necessarily the same function. They
are all derived from the same part of a
common ancestor.
◼ As vertebrates have evolved, the same bones are
sometimes put to different uses, yet they can still be
seen, their presence betraying their evolutionary
past.
• Analogous structures: Structures of
different species having similar or
corresponding function but not from the
same evolutionary origin
• (Different animals adapt in similar fashion when
challenged by similar opportunities)
◼ The feature has the same function but looks
different.
They are the result of convergent evolution

◼ Vestigial structures:
◼ Although they had a purpose &
function in the past they are largely or
entirely functionless now.
◼ a vestigial structure may retain lesser
functions or develop new ones.
The blue whale has tiny hind leg bones under its tail. The blind mole rat has tiny eyes completely
covered by a layer of skin.
• Evolution is
the slow, gradual
change in a
population of
organisms
over time…
a looooooooong time!
What determines survival?
⚫ Natural Selection
⚫ Adaptations (traits) that help
individuals survive
⚫ survive predators
⚫ survive disease
⚫ compete for food
⚫ compete for territory
⚫ traits that help individuals reproduce
⚫ attracting a mate
⚫ compete for nesting sites
⚫ successfully raise young

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Lamarck vs.

Why? What is the real difference between

During His Travels, Darwin Made

Ardi (Ardipithecus ramidus) : stood about 47

◼ The forms linking

Fig. 13.4 Whale

⚫ Relative Dating (aka

Fig. 13.5 Molecules

The greater the number

They are the result of convergent evolution

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