This document discusses key concepts of evolution through natural selection including overpopulation, variation, survival of the fittest, and the formation of new species. It explains how organisms tend to overproduce offspring leading to competition over limited resources. Individuals within a population vary in traits and advantageous variations increase the chances of survival and are passed on, known as survival of the fittest. Over time, inheritance of advantageous traits can lead to the evolution of new species through adaptive radiation.
2. “Survival of the Fittest”
Selection for traits that are most successful in current environment
A constant process – environments change and therefore so do
factors that determine success
3. Darwin proposed that
organisms descend from
common ancestors and change
with time, diverging from the
original common form
This causes the evolution of
new species
5. Organisms tend to produce
many offspring – more than
the environment can support
Organisms will reproduce
until something stops them
(usually food)
6. •Because of overpopulation, individuals compete with one another over
limited resources food, water, shelter, mates
•Competition occurs both within and between species
7. •Individuals of a population vary in their traits and characteristics
•This variation is passed on to offspring.
9. New species results by
inheritance of trait(s), on
genes, that give them another
advantage over others
New species evolve!
10. Where one species evolves into one or more other species
Also called ADAPTIVE RADIATION
11. An inheritable characteristic that provides an advantage for
survival and reproduction.
Adaptations can be:
1. Structural – a part the organism has to help it survive
Ex: Speed, camouflage, claws, quills, etc.
2. Physiological – a metabolic or chemical adaptation to help it survive
Ex: ability to maintain internal temperature; use less water for photosynthesis; produce a
poisen
3. Behavioral – something the organism does to help it survive
Ex: Migration; solitary vs. herds; flying in formation
13. Alleles exist with a certain frequency in populations of organisms
The available genes and alleles in a population are called the “gene pool”
14. Changes in the structure of genes introduce new alleles to populations and disrupt
equilibrium
Not all mutations are good, many are fatal
This is the source of all new alleles
15. Preference for a particular allele will increase its frequency in a population over
generations
Selection can happen in three different ways
16. 1. If the environment favours the average of the distribution, the selection is
called stabilizing selection
17. 2. If the environment
favours one extreme, the
selection is directional
18. 3. If the environment favours both extremes, the selection is disruptive
19. Mutations: The Science of Survival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVmusHZtQms (Darwin & Natural Selection)
20:00 to 29:29 (part 3?)