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Forces that Drive Evolution. Mutation, Selection, Genetic Drift and Gene Flow. Forces that Drive Evolution Objectives:. Understand that evolution is change over time Understand that there are four main forces that “drive” evolution: Mutation
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Forces that Drive Evolution Mutation, Selection, Genetic Drift and Gene Flow
Forces that Drive Evolution Objectives: • Understand that evolution is change over time • Understand that there are four main forces that “drive” evolution: • Mutation • Natural selection (and other forms of selection) • Genetic drift • Gene flow • Be able to explain each, and how they work
Evolution – A Definition (or three) • Variation of inherited traits within a population over time* • Descent with modification • Change over time* *time = multiple generations
Charles Darwin – The Theory of Evolution • English naturalist (1809-1882) • Traveled the world (including the Galapagos Islands) on the Beagle, making observations, collecting samples, formulating the Theory of Evolution • Published On The Origin of Species over 20 years after his voyage on the Beagle. • It was meant to explain the diversity of life, not the origin.
Why is Darwin so important? • Provided evidence for descent with modification (i.e., change over time, i.e., evolution) • Proposed a natural mechanism for how species evolve (i.e., natural selection)
Evolution helps explain… • The diversity of life on Earth • How new species are formed • Why organisms look and behave the way they do • How organisms respond to changes in their environment • Why some groups of organisms are more diverse than others
Darwin’s Evidence for Evolution • Animal distributions - Closely related organisms found in geographical proximity
Darwin’s Evidence for Evolution • Fossils - Sequential emergence of different groups and transitional forms
Darwin’s Evidence for Evolution • Homology - The spatial and developmental equivalence of traits that may look quite different
Darwin’s Evidence for Evolution • Vestigial features - Speaks to imperfect “design”. Best explained by the persistence of shared traits.
Forces That Drive Evolution • Mutation • Selection • Genetic Drift • Gene Flow
Mutations Affect Genes, Proteins, Traits U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program, https://www.ornl.gov/hgmis
Natural Selection From “Understanding Evolution”
How Does Evolution Work? Through a process called “Natural Selection” Individuals in a population that are better adapted for a particular environment, survive and pass their traits on to their offspring H.E. Hoekstra
Natural Selection The Pocket Mouse Example
Natural Selection The Pocket Mouse Example What can we conclude? The mice that blend in have an advantage over those that stand out. They survive and reproduce.
What other types of selection are there besides Natural Selection?
What is sexual selection? Competition for mates
What is sexual selection? Competition for mates Armaments (intrasexual selection) Ornaments (intersexual selection)
Sexual Selection The Birds of Paradise Example
Sexual Selection The Birds of Paradise Example What can we conclude? The birds that stand out have an advantage over those that blend in. They have more chances to reproduce.
Natural Selection suggests it is better to blend in… Sexual Selection suggests it is better to stand out… Can you come up with an hypothesis (or theories) to explain this?!?
Artificial Selection Moruga Scorpion Pepper
Genetic Drift Genetic Drift – Change in gene pool due to chance From “Understanding Evolution”
Genetic Drift Genetic Drift – Change in gene pool due to chance The “jar of marbles” example From “Understanding Evolution”
Genetic Drift Genetic Drift – Change in gene pool due to chance The “jar of marbles” example From “Understanding Evolution”
Genetic Drift- Bottlenecks A population’s size is reduced for at least one generation
Genetic Drift– Founder Effect Establishment of a new population (colony) by just a few individuals
Question:Why are genetic drift, bottlenecks and founder effects important in evolution? Answer:They result in reduced genetic variation. And why does this matter???
Because reduced genetic variation can mean decreased ability to adapt to new selective pressures, such as… or… Climate change Evolving pathogens
Gene Flow Change in gene pool due to migration
Natural Selection Activities • Survival of the Skittleshttps://salsa.nescent.org/activity-2-survival-of-the-skittles/) • “Clip Birds” (https://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/lessons/clipbirds/) • Teddy Graham Evolution • Several online simulations… • EvoDots (https://faculty.washington.edu/herronjc/SoftwareFolder/EvoDots.html) • AIPOTU (https://aipotu.umb.edu/) • PhET NS Simulator (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/natural-selection) • McGraw-Hill Natural Selection Simulator https://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_12/BL_12.html • ENSI Evolution Lessons (https://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/evol.fs.html)