 Any change in the genes of a population over time

 Big Bang Theory: explosion of a mass of matter to create the universe  4.6 billion years ago

Abiogenic Molecular Evolution: a) Organic molecules gradually assembled from inorganic elements b) Hildane – “Hot Dilute Soup”, combination of Earth’s primitive atmosphere (H 2 0, CO 2, Ammonia) and UV radiation created organic molecules c) Oparin – energy from the sun, lightning, and volcanic heat formed organic molecules

1) Gradualism: slow change over time 2) First cell was probably a “protocell” 1) Membrane bound cell that reproduced 2) Heterotrophic 3) Prokaryotic 4) Originated probably four billion years ago 3) Life may have originated more than once

1) Georges Cuvier: Catastrophism: Only one time of creation that populated the entire world, global catastrophe wiped out most of them. 2) Jean Baptiste de Lamarck: Theory of Inherited Characteristics: environmental pressures and “internal desires” bring about physical changes that would be that would be passed on to offspring

3) Charles Lyell: Theory of Uniformity: The same geological processes that are occurring now, happened in the past as well *An issue for scientists as most people thought the world was only six thousand years old as noted in the Bible.

 Naturalist aboard the H.M.S. Beagle for a five year exploration  His notes became the basis of his evolutionary theories and book, The Origin of Species

 Used his notes on Finches, especially in regards to their beak and diet to create his framework

a) More offspring are produced than can survive b) All members must compete for resources c) All organisms show individual variations mostly due to heredity d) Some variations are better adapted to survive e) These organisms that are more likely to survive therefore reproduce, therefore increase frequency of better adaptations f) Change over long enough time results in new species

 Individuals do not evolve, populations over time do  A group of individuals of the same species who occupy the same area  Gene Pool: all the genes present in a population, population shows variation

1. Gene mutation (produces new alleles) 2. Crossing over at meiosis (leads to new combinations of alleles in chromosomes) 3. Independent assortment at meiosis (Anaphase I & II, leads to mixes of maternal and fraternal chromosomes in gametes) 4. Fertilization (puts together combinations of alleles from two parents) 5. Changes in chromosome number or structure (lead to loss, duplication, or alteration of alleles)

 Changes of gene frequencies within a population  Caused by: mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, and natural selection

 Heritable change in DNA that can alter gene expression  Can be neutral, harmful, beneficial, or lethal  Original sources of alleles and thus variation

 Random change in gene frequencies over the generations as brought about random events only

 Allele/gene frequencies change as individuals leave a population or new individuals enter a population  Physical movement of genes

 Species: A group of organisms that breed and produce offspring that can reproduce  Speciation: The development of a new species from an existing species

 Reproductive Isolation: groups of the same species can not contact each other and adapt to separate environments, and thus develop into different species

 Adaptive Radiation: One common ancestor develops into different species based on competition, location, food supply, etc.  Ex: Darwins finches

 Large evolutionary changes in which new species emerge  Punctuated Equilibrium: new species suddenly emerge  Gradualism: Gradual, slow change over time with intermediate organisms found.

1. Fossil Record: a) Sequence of fossils b) Rocks formed in layers with older ones on bottom c) Fossils in older layers are older and simpler

 Comparing anatomical structures of current organisms with each other and past organisms  Vestigial Organs: have no current function; appendix, wisdom teeth, penguin wings, little toe  Homologous Structures: Same structure in two organisms but different functions

 Similarities in the developmental stages of embryos amongst different organisms