4.
3 Evolution
Key words:
Adaptation, variation, genes, competition,
inheritance, ‘survival of the fittest’, Fossils,
archaeopteryx, extinction, selection pressure
4.3 Evolution
Watch the video, and write down key words and concepts associated
with evolution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci9jfMvoLb4
key words from the video
• Adaptation
• Competition
• Survival
• Extinction
• Variation
Evolution
Candidates should be able to:
• Explain the consequences of the four observations made by Darwin in
proposing his theory of natural selection; (HSW1)
• Outline how variation, adaptation and selection are major components of
evolution;
• Discuss why the evolution of pesticide resistance in insects and drug
resistance in microorganisms has implications for humans
Variation
• What do you know about variation and how is it caused?
Variation
• What do you know about genetic variation and environmental ?
What are alleles?
What are alleles?
• Different varieties of the same gene.
Genetic Variation
Every person on Earth has their own unique genetic make-up
(unless they are an identical twin)
Most of our 25,000 genes are controlled by more than 1
allele
A few traits are determined by a single allele e.g. sex, eye
colour, blood group, inherited diseases
Caused by miscopying of the DNA of gametes resulting in
changes in (or loss of) proteins
Genetic variation caused my
meiosis
Crossing over
Variation
Variation is the existence of variety and
differences within and between species
On the surface organisms may look
identical but on closer inspection show
a great deal of variation in their
genetics, behaviour and
lifestyles
Cause of variation How variation is produced
Causes of Variation
An error occurs during replication of the DNA in a gene.
GENE A change in the order of base alters the amino acid
MUTATION sequence in the protein coded for by the gene.
INDEPENDENT During meiosis maternal and paternal chromosomes are
ASSORTMENT reshuffled. The chromosomes and therefore alleles of
genes can combine in new ways.
During metaphase 1 sections of chromatids in the
CROSSING bivalents are interchanged. Blocks of genes are moved
OVER and linked alleles may separate and rejoin in new
combinations.
During cell division sections of chromosomes are
CHROMOSOM
displaced, e.g. during anaphase. This can result in genes
E MUTATION
being deleted, duplicated or inversion of a sequence.
Each parent I genetically different and can produce huge
RANDOM
numbers of gametes. Which gametes fuse at fertilisation
FERTILISATIO is a matter of chance.
N
ENVIRONMENTA The expression of genes may be affected by diet,
L FACTORS disease or temperature during development. Mutagens
may cause gene mutations in somatic cells.
Types of Variation - Discontinuous
Types of Variation - Continuous
Types of Variation - Discontinuous
Also known as Discrete variables
Variables are assigned to clearly defined categories or
distinct groups
Examples include : sex, blood groups, eye colour
Data usually presented as a bar graph
Types of Variation - Continuous
The full range of variables between 2 extreme values
Examples in nature include : height, weight, length, size
Data is normally presented in a Normal Distribution bell-shaped
curve
Environmental Variation
Most continuous variables are affected by the environment
Skin colour, weight, height, dialects, accents etc are all influenced
by this
There is a recognised relationship between genes & environment
Most phenotypic traits are affected by this
Natural Selection
• Natural Selection is a mechanism that Darwin used to
explain evolution
• In Natural Selection ‘nature’ determines which animals or
plants are able to reproduce and pass on their features
• When environments change some animals and plants
species survive or evolve but many become extinct
Write down the 6-7 stages of natural selection in
order! Describe and explain some of these stages
Stage of natural selection Explanation
Write down the 6-7 stages of natural
selection
Stage of natural selection Explanation
Extension:
• Explain how stage one is caused
• Which type of reproduction is more likely to promote
natural selection- asexual or sexual reproduction- explain
your answers
Put the stages of natural selection in
order
What do you know about Darwin’s
theory of Natural selection?
Stages of Darwin’s theory of Natural
selection
1. Genetic variation
2. Competition for resources
3. Those better adapted are more likely to survive
as they have a selective advantage
4. Reproduction - the better adapted organisms
can reproduce more
5. Inheritance of successful adaptations
6. More offspring produced by the better adapted
organisms (they are more likely to survive and
reproduce)
7. Population of better adapted organisms
increases over time/ over generations
8. Extinction of less adapted individuals
Class set of key words from the video
• Adaptation
• Competition
• Survival
• Extinction
• Variation
Are all giraffes identical?
What do we call these differences in organisms
within a species
Within all organisms there is natural variation.
Is natural variation a good thing?
Discuss what we mean by the
‘survival of the fittest??
Selection pressure
1. Discuss what we mean by selection pressure.
2. Can you think of examples of selection pressures?
These are factors that cause organisms to struggle for
survival, and determine which individuals will be better at
surviving and reproducing.
For example, predation, food shortage or disease.
Natural selection
• Darwin’s finches settled in the Galapagus islands.
Suggest why the finches have different beak shapes and
why this was important.
• Why does the population of dark moths rise in the first
picture
• Why does the population of dark moths decrease in the
second picture
Examples of natural selection: Peppered
moths
• Genes control the colour of the peppered moth.
• Some moths are dark and some are pale
• In parts of the country that have high pollution, lichen
growing on the bark of trees is killed by the pollution
• Dark moths are camouflaged on dark tree bark, so there
are more dark moths in polluted areas
• In cleaner regions, pale coloured lichen grows. Dark
moths stand out so are more likely to be eaten. It is the
pale form of the moth that survives to pass on its genes
to the next generation
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SCjhI86grU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yvEDqrc3XE
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSgulsydsQU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QefLNQ3VMAw
Use the theory of natural
selection to describe and
explain how bacteria
become resistant to
antibiotics
A smaller example…
Consider the four steps of natural selection in the example of some bacteria
that has become resistant to penicillin:
1) Variation – some strains of bacteria are
Bacteria resistant and some aren’t.
2) Competition – The non-resistant bacteria are
killed by the penicillin.
3) Survival of the fittest – the resistant bacteria
survive.
4) Passing on of genes – the resistant bacteria
reproduce and pass on their adaptations to
Penicillin their offspring.
Rats have evolved to become resistant to
the poison warfarin
Pair work:
You will research two different examples of natural selection:
You must use the stages of natural selection to explain the
examples below. Ensure you identify the selection pressure.
• A = you will research insects’ resistance to insecticide
• B = you will research bacterial resistance to antibiotics
• In 9 minutes time you will feedback to your partner
• Ask some questions to see if they have understood!
Extension:
• Discuss How new species are formed
• How does natural selection account for successful organisms
with burdensome adaptations e.g. peacock tails.
How does natural selection account for
successful organisms with burdensome
adaptations e.g. peacock tails
Speciation
To form new species, the process of natural selection
needed to take place in
1.Geographic isolation: e.g. populations are separated by
a physical barrier such as a river/ different parts of an island
2.Reproductive isolation (without breeding between
populations): groups that are separated can become so
different over time that they no longer can produce
offspring.
Speciation
Populations change and adapt to new
environments/habitats over many years; to the point where
the small changes have added up so much that they
members can no longer interbreed and produce fertile
offspring
Isolating barriers may arise for many reasons, including when high water levels
separate islands from the mainland, when a drier climate spreads grasslands
and divides areas of forest, and when an area in the midst of a population's range
undergoes geologic uplift, forming hills or mountains
Activity 3
Exam question
Suggest how dolphins could have evolved from a dog-like mammal.
In your answer, use Darwin’s theory of natural selection. You will be
assessed on your spelling, grammar and written communication.
Natural selection
1. Variation: there was variation, some dog-like mammals looked a bit fish-like e.g.
slight fin. Some were more mammal-like.
2. Competition: there was competition for limited resources, the fish-like organisms
competed better. Maybe there was an environmental change e.g. flooding and fish-
like mammals competed better.
3. Adaptation- fish-like organisms were better adapted and competed better than other
individuals.
4. Survival of the fittest- those better adapted survived better and were able to
reproduce more
5. Inheritance: fish like organisms were able to pass on their successful adaptations to
their offspring
6. Fish-like organisms were able to survive and reproduce more and their population
numbers increased.
7. Less adapted dog-like mammals, did not survive well and became extinct.
A) Some bacteria have now become resistant to the antibiotic penicillin. Here are the
steps of natural selection for this example:
1. Variation – some strains of bacteria are resistant and some aren’t.
2. Competition – The non-resistant bacteria are killed by the penicillin.
3. Survival of the fittest – the resistant bacteria survive.
4. Passing on of genes – the resistant bacteria reproduce and pass on their
adaptations to their offspring.
Use the example above to explain why rats have evolved to become resistant to
the poison warfarin.
A) Some bacteria have now become resistant to the antibiotic penicillin. Here
are the steps of natural selection for this example:
1. Variation – some strains of bacteria are resistant and some aren’t.
2. Competition – The non-resistant bacteria are killed by the penicillin.
3. Survival of the fittest – the resistant bacteria survive.
4. Passing on of genes – the resistant bacteria reproduce and pass on their
adaptations to their offspring.
B)Use the example above to explain why the type of peppered moths ( black or
white), changed. ( 6 marks)
3) The long necks of giraffes are an adaptation.Use the
theory of natural selection to explain how giraffes could
have evolved long necks from shorter necked ancestors. (
6 marks)
Reviewing Answers
1) Variation( long necks and short necks) long necked
ones are better adapted to feed survive better (survival
of the fittest) genetic inheritance (genes for long necks
passed on) more offspring produced by longer necked
ones population of long neck giraffes increased short
necked giraffes are less likely to survive and population
decreases
Answers
