HISTORY OF EVOLUTION

I. Origin of Life

A. Introduction

Prior to the seventeenth century, scientists believed in a process called spontaneous generation, or the idea that living organisms could spontaneously arise from nonliving things.

Why?

Maggots appeared on rotting meat

Fish lived in ponds that were dry the year before

I. Origin of Life

In an attempt to learn more about spontaneous generation, scientists designed controlled experiments.

BUT…these experiments actually disproved spontaneous generation and proved a theory called biogenesis, or the idea that all living things arise from other living things.

I. Origin of Life

B. Experiments Supporting Biogenesis

1. Redi’s Experiment

2. Spallanzani’s Experiment

3. Pasteur’s Experiment

I. Origin of Life

C. So…all living things must come from other living things. But, where did the first living things come from?

1. The Miller-Urey Experiment

A. Baptiste de Lamarck (1744-1829)

1. Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics

Result of an inner need May change in a single

generation Traits are then passed on to the

next generation

A. Jean Baptiste de Lamarck (1744-1829)

3. Why Lamarck’s theory doesn’t work!

Traits that your parents or grandparents acquired would be passed on to you.

For example if your grandfather lost his arm in a war, all of his offspring would also have one arm.

II. Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

A. As you watch the video, fill in 5 interesting facts, things you didn’t know, summary points, etc.

III. Darwin’s TheoryA. Natural Selection (Survival Of The Fittest)

4 Main Points…

Variation exists within species Organisms produce more offspring than can survive All organisms compete for limited natural resources The environment selects organisms with beneficial

traits. These organisms are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass the trait on to future generations.

Ex: Cold Environment Thick fur is a beneficial trait. Thick fur animals survive & reproduce at a

greater rate.

Adaptation a trait that gives an organism an advantage in its environment

A

B

C

DE

F

G

1. What two birds are adapted for swimming?

2. What environment is bird F best adapted to?

3. What bird is best adapted to perch on branches?

4. What is the adaptation for bird C?

5. Which bird is most likely a large, walking bird?