Evolution

The definition of evolution is the change over time in one or more inherited traits found in populations of organisms. Some different theory’s of evolution are from Charles Darwin and Lamarck. Charles Darwin’s theory is natural selection. Natural selection is when a species has to change in order to survive. Whether its change in environment, or struggle for existence, or survival of the fittest, the species has to be able to adapt to its environment to survive. Lamarck’s theory is the inheritance of acquired characteristics. It states a changing environment creates a need for certain features to be developed in order to survive. They acquire characteristics needed for survival then somehow pass those characteristics on to their offspring. Over many generations a new species has been developed.

There are two different levels of evolution microevolution and macroevolution. Microevolution is on the small scale in one population. A population is a group of organisms that interbreed with each other and share a gene pool. Macroevolution is evolution on a scale of separated gene pools.

Microevolution, the evolution on the small scale in one population, has four mechanism of microevolution are mutation, migration, genetic drift, and natural selection. Mutation is when some genes randomly mutate to different genes. Migration is when one species from one population immigrate to another population and mate spreading their genes. Genetic drift is when a species reproduces and just by luck more of one gene ends up the offspring the other gene. And last is natural selection. Natural selection is when a species changes color to match its surrounding so it doesn’t get eaten by predators.

An example of natural selection evolution is the mice. There were some black mice and white mice in a black environment. Predators ate the white mice because they could see them easier. The black mice had offspring that were black so they were able to survive and grow up to be big and healthy.

An example of Lamarck’s theory is the long legs of wading birds such as herons and egrets, birds that are common around rivers and marshes. This caused by a change in environment. The food in the shallow water was depleting so the wading birds had to stretch its legs to get food in deeper waters. When the next generation was born they had a little longer legs.

Macroevolution, evolution on a scale of separate gene pools, is a much longer process then microevolution. Macroevolution is when the whole family changes over a long period of time and completely changes the creature and makes a whole new creature.

An example of this is humans. we have been evolving as a family for many many years. Charles Darwins says we have evolved from apes. This would have taken many many years to happen but their is actually alot of proof that it has happened.

Evolution is really cool. I would like to learn more about it. To do that I plan on actually doing all the blogs you sent out instead of skimming through them to get enough information for me to write my paper. I did that because I have senioritis bad and I can’t focus at all anymore.

Microevolution

Microevolution

PART 1: EVOLUTION 101

--Go to http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IVMicroevolution.shtml and proceed to the definition of microevolution page.

1. How do the authors of this page define microevolution?
Microevolution is evolution on the small scale. In one population.
2. How do they define a population?
Population is a group of organisms that interbreed with each other and share a gene pool.

--Read the section “Mechanisms of Microevolution”

3. Summarize each of the 4 mechanisms of microevolutionary change that are discussed.
Mutation Some genes have been randomly mutated but this is rare.
Migration some members of a population with a certain gene migrated to population with another gene and bred
Genetic drift when a population reproduces by random luck more of one genes end up in the offspring then in the parents
Natural selection preditors eat one color of beetle because they stand out while the other blinds in.

--Under “Explore further” at the bottom of the page, click on “examples of microevolution” and read the examples provided.

4. Summarize the 3 examples of microevolution on this page.
Size of sparrows sparrows in the north are bigger then sparrows in the south because larger bodied birds survive lower temperatures better.
Global warming some species use the summer to for growth and reproduction. With warmer summers they have more time for growth and reproduction
Resistance pesticides herbicines and antibolic resistance are examples of natural selection.

--Go to the link “Artificial selection in the lab” and read about experiments with the evolution of guppies.

5. Summarize the results of the two different experiments (with and without predators).
With the predators the guppys changed to blind in with their eviroment. Without the predators the guppys changed to stand out to attract the females.
6. What types of selection were demonstrated in each experiment? Are these experiments truly cases of artificial selection? Explain your answer.
With the predator it was natural selection because the guppy changed to bend in so it doesn’t get eaten. Without the predators it was genetic drift.

--Click on the quick quiz link to go to the quiz.

7. Pick your three favorite questions from the quiz and write how you would answer them if you were teaching this class.
How can microevolution happen? It can happen from mutations change in DNA migration or genetic drift.
Is microevolution the evolution of small things? No it is evolution on a small scale.
My dad says we shouldn’t use too much pesticide. Why not? The survivers may develop a resistance.

PART 2: SEX AND THE SINGLE GUPPY

Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/sex/guppy/index.html

Use the simulation to test different hypotheses about why some guppies are very brightly colored even though that makes them easy for predators to find.

1. Why do some guppies tend to be drabber than others?
Some guppys are drabber then others to avoid predators.
2. Why do some guppies tend to be more colorful?
Some guppys are more colorful because the female chooses the most attractive mate and the male guppy has a chance to pass his genes on to the next generation.
3. What role does color play in guppy survival?
Color makes it easyer for predators to find them but the female also picks the best looking mate so the species keeps going.
4. Explain the push and pull that the environment (including predators) has on the coloration of guppies in Endler’s pools.
Color makes it easyer for predators to find them but the female also picks the best looking mate so the species keeps going

Animal Indexing

These last few weeks I had to walk around my neighborhood counting the animals I saw. I had to do this 4 times each 30 mins long. I counted 14 dogs and 1 cat in my neighborhood. They were all owned. This is after the company spayed and neutered all the dogs and cats. They were having us count the number of stray dogs we saw on our walk so they know if their experiment of spaying and neutering the animals would bring down the number of stray dogs. So far it seems like it is working.