Theory of Evolution

Objectives:

1.Understand the evidence of evolution and why these claims were made

2. Explain mechanisms that add to the theory of evolution

Essential questions:

1. What evidence supports claims of evolution?

2. How do mechanisms add to the theory of evolution?

Key Terms:

Fossils - Preserved remains of a once living organism

Homologous structures - Shared structures, genes etc from ancestors

Analogous structures - The evolution of the same features in species

Vestigial - retention in the process of evolution

Adapt - adjusting to unfamiliar conditions

Paleontologist - a scientist who studies fossils

Mutations - abnormal nucleotide sequence in genes

Mammal - a warm-blooded animal

Ancestor - a person who is related to you who is descended

Anatomy - science that deals with the structure of humans, animals, and other organisms

Extinct - a group of species that are no longer living

The theory of evolution is that every living organism that exist on earth today have all come from descended organisms. The theory of evolution was discovered and researched by Charles Darwin Every organism today are all related because they come from common ancestors. Evolution is not the replacement of older species with newer species it is when new traits evolve over a period of time. Organisms leave evidence of their existence through fossils. Fossils are preserved remains of a once living organism. Different types of fossils are bones, footprints, petrified wood etc. Organisms that share common ancestors usually have similar traits. Scientist studied evolutionary relationships between species by comparing their anatomy. Scientist suspect that birds evolved from dinosaurs. Scientist use genes, proteins, and DNA to discover evolutionary relationships. Natural selection is the process in how organisms are more likely to survive. An example of this is the peppered moth. The peppered moth has the ability to camouflage itself against blackened tree barks. Evolution is not only a change in species but also, the creation of entirely new species this is called speciation. Sometimes speciation is due to geographical isolation when a physical border separates two populations. Organisms of different species cannot reproduce and breed a fertile offspring because of isolating mechanisms. Isolating mechanisms can mean that species cannot reproduce or reproduce a healthy offspring.