1. Evolution

2. What is evolution?  Evolution is the process of biological change by which species of organisms change over time.  Evolution is a central theme in all fields of biology today.

3. Evolution is when organisms change over time. So, modern organisms descended from ancient ones.

4. Evolution is a Theory – Just like Gravity! Evolution is a well supported explanation of phenomena that have occurred in the natural worldEvolution is a well supported explanation of phenomena that have occurred in the natural world A theory in science is a well tested hypothesis, not just a guessA theory in science is a well tested hypothesis, not just a guess

5. Evolutionary Scientists  Charles Bonnet mid-1700s  First to use term evolution  Studied fossils  James Hutton  1795 Theory of Geological change  Jean-Baptiste Lamarck 1809

6. Evolutionary Scientists  Charles Lyell  Geographical features can be built up or torn down  Charles Darwin  Thomas Malthus  Studied human population growth and the effect it would have on Earth  Russell Wallace  Gave Darwin the drive to publish his findings

7. Carolus Linnaeus  1700s developed a classification system for all types of organisms  Grouped organisms based on their similarities  System is still in use today

8. Georges Buffon  Proposed species shared ancestors instead of arising separately  Rejected idea of the time that Earth was only 6000 years old…he suggested it was much older  His idea was similar to that of Charles Lyell

9. Charles Darwin  Natural selection was the theory he proposed to explain evolution.  He attempted to provide reasons for the biological diversity on Earth.  Developed his theory from personal observations and research of other scientists.

10. Natural Selection  The traits that help an organism survive in a particular environment are “selected” in natural selection

11. Charles Darwin (1809-1882) -Sailed around the world 1831-1836 on the British ship H.M.S. Beagle. - Observed finches and tortoises Charles Darwin (1809-1882) -Sailed around the world 1831-1836 on the British ship H.M.S. Beagle. - Observed finches and tortoises

12. What did Darwin’s Travels Reveal?  The diversity of living species was far greater than anyone had previously known!!  These observations led him to develop the theory of evolution!!  He observed the land and its inhabitants.  Finches and Tortoises

13. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck  He proposed the idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics:  changes in an environment caused an organism’s behavior to change  this would lead to greater use or disuse of a structure or organ.  the structure would become larger or smaller and would then be passed down to offspring  For example: giraffes’ long necks  Idea was WRONG!!

15. Malthus Malthus  Reasoned that if the human population continued to grow unchecked, sooner or later there would be insufficient living space and food for everyone