Evolution Belief: Optional Understanding & Participation: Required Incorrect Correct

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution I Can… Describe the various pre-Darwinian ideas about evolution and discuss how those ideas contributed to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution through the process of natural selection. I Will… Define relevant vocabulary terms Identify the early naturalists and describe their understanding of evolution. List important ideas of uniformitarianism that contributed to evolutionary theory. Contrast gradualism and catatrophism.

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Theory – In common public usage – An idea or notion – “I have a theory about that…” In Science – An explanation that has been confirmed to such a degree, by observation and experiment, that knowledgeable experts accept it as fact e.g. gravity, relativity, electricity.

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution There were many ideas about biological and geological change prior to Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. Evolution – the process of biological change by which descendants come to differ from their ancestors. Parents only donate one copy of their genes to their offspring. Offspring inherit two genes (one from each parent). Genotype is the actual genes present in the organism. Phenotype if the physical expression of the genes. Affected by; type of allele dominance, gene interactions (polygenic, epistatic), and environmental factors. Review

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Population – a group of the same species of organism located in the same geologic area. Species – a group of organisms genetically similar enough to reproduce viable, fertile offspring. Review Key Concept: Populations evolve Individuals DO NOT evolve Baring mutations or intentional alteration of somatic cell DNA The genes you inherit are yours for your life and in every cell of your body.

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Carolus Linnaeus – 1700s Swedish botanist Developed classification system for organisms based on grouping organisms by similarities and using evolutionary relationships. Abandoned common belief that organisms were always in their present form and did not change. Hybridization (plant experiments)

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Georges Buffon – 1700s French naturalist Proposed that species share a common ancestor instead of arising separately. Rejected the idea that the Earth was only 6000 years old.

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Eramus Darwin – 1700s / Charles Darwin’s Grandfather Proposed all living things were descended from a common ancestor. More-complex forms of life arose from less complex forms.

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Jean-Baptiste Lamarck – 1800s French Naturalist Proposed all organisms evolved toward perfection and complexity. Inheritance of Acquired Traits Did not believe that species became extinct, but just evolved into different forms. Proposed that environment caused behavior to change leading to greater use or disuse of structures and organs. Result organ grows bigger or smaller

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Theories of geologic change set the stage for Darwin’s evolutionary theory. Earth’s age – hotly debated Common view – Earth was 6000 years old Calculated by biblical reference Common belief that since the Earth was created Earth had not changed Creatures on Earth had not changed No extinctions

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Theories of geologic change set the stage for Darwin’s evolutionary theory. Georges Cuvier – French Zoologist Proposed that species could become extinct Fossil evidence in Earth’s strata showed different organisms at different layers. Fossil – trace of organisms that existed in the past. Something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks (Merriam Webster.com)

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Theories of geologic change set the stage for Darwin’s evolutionary theory. Catastrophism- (Cuvier) Natural disasters occurred often in Earth’s past Shaped landforms Caused extinctions Other species moved into areas after extinction events Explains different fossils in layers of same area

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Theories of geologic change set the stage for Darwin’s evolutionary theory. Gradualism- (Hutton / 1700s Scottish Geologist) Proposed slow changes over a long period of time altered Earth’s structures. Uniformitarianism – (Lyell / 1800s English Geologist) Expanded gradualism Geologic processes are not only slow, but uniform through time Present processes occurred in past

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Theories of geologic change set the stage for Darwin’s evolutionary theory. Catastrophism Gradualism

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Theories of geologic change set the stage for Darwin’s evolutionary theory. Gradualism Uniformitarianism

Learning Target: Early Ideas About Evolution Darwin was influenced by both naturalists and geologists of the 1700 and 1800s. Rejecting some ideas Expanding other ideas Think: Why was uniformitarianism stating that the Earth has gone through continuous gradual changes over billions of years important to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?