homeostasis
regulate their internal state
- requires a barrier separating internal and external spaces
- metabolic processes to provide energy and materials
surviving as a lineage requires
growth and reproduction
capacity to adapt to change (evolution)
hypothesis
a tentative or speculative explanation or prediction that is testable by observation or experiment
theory
an explanation that is well-supported by scientific studies
law
a narrowly focused prediction derived from a wider theory
hypothesis and theories
CANT be proved!! only supported or not supported
evolution
adapting to change - requires growth and reproduction
- change in the genetic composition of a population over time
scientific method
make observation -> generate hypothesis -> make predictions -> test predictions
cells arise spontaneously....
from non-living materials
Louis Pasteur's work
bacterial spread is more efficient when left in an open container rather than closed --broth experiment
DNA structure
a molecule carrying genetic material that is double-stranded made up of nucleotides
nitrogenous bases (purines)
adenine and guanine
nitrogenous bases (pyrimidines)
cytosine and thymine
genes
sequence of nucleotides in DNA encodes genetic instructions needed to build and maintain an organism.
determines order
provides a blueprint for producing specific proteins
DNA replication is a semiconservative process
each new double helix consists of one original strand and a newly synthesized strand
DNA "unzips" then each strand is used to synthesize a new strand through
complementary base pairing
transcription
a process by which the information in a gene DNA sequence is copied into a complementary RNA molecule
translation
when mRNA sequence is used to direct the synthesis of a protein
proteins are made up of
amino acids which are used to determine the nucleotide sequence
genetic code is consisted of codons which match with..
corresponding transfer RNA molecule
mRNA binds to a ribosome
a molecular machine that facilitates the assembly of proteins
- catalyses the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids building the protein chain
Mendelian genetics (principals of heredity)
Gregor Mendel figured out how traits are inherited from one generation to the next
2 laws of inheritance
law of segregation and law of independent assortment
law of segregation
each individual possesses 2 alleles for a gene (one from each parent)
- these alleles separate during formation of gametes (sperm and egg)
law of independent assortment
alleles of different genes assort independently of one another, during the formation of gametes
- inheritance of one trait does not influence the inheritance of another trait
haploid
each gamete carriers one allele for each gene
diploid
organisms that carry 2 copies of each gene
alleles
carry more than one version of genes
locus
individual can have 2 copies of the same allele - homozygous state
individual can have 2 copies of different allele - heterozygous state
dominant
trait seen even with one copy
recessive
need both alleles shown in trait
incomplete dominance
the heterozygous has an intermediate phenotype
polygenic inheritance
multiple genes influence a single trait
codominance
both alleles are fully expressed in heterozygote
DNA
master copy of genetic code
mRNA
message used for gene expression (transcribed from DNA, translated into protein)
genes are organized into codons
1 codon -- 1 amino acid
the central dogma of molecular biology connects
genotype (genes) and phenotype (physical traits)
mutations
can result from DNA damage
point mutation
from single nucleus subunit
frameshift mutation
from nucleus insertions or deletion
gene duplication or deletion
shift in gene
genome of an organism
the entire set of genetic info carried in DNA
- consisted of pieces of DNA called chromosomes
ploidy
the number of sets of chromosomes
gametes
half amount of the chromosomes
mitosis
creates a duplicated cell with an identical genome
binary fission
duplicate in mitosis
meiosis
daughter cells with half genomic content
- genetic info is heritable
diploid organisms
homozygous (2 same alleles)
heterozygous (2 diff alleles)
interaction of alleles leads to
phenotype
assumption of mendelian
1. each gene has 2 copies
2. at a locus individuals can be homozygous or heterozygous
3. gametes are haploid
evolutionary change
- measure the rate of new mutations
- observe the spread of new genetic variants
- see the effects of genetic change on the function of organisms
long- term morphological changes
result of underlying genetic changes
evolutionary theory
understanding and applying the mechanisms of evolutionary change to biological problems
- used to study and treat diseases
- allows biologists to understand how life diversified
- helps us make predictions about the biological world
Charles Darwin
developed the explanatory theory for evolutionary change
- independent discovery (collecting specimens, plants, and animals)
Darwin 3 major propositions
1. species are not immutable; they change over time
2. divergent species share a common ancestor and have diverged from one another over time
3. changes in species over time can be explained by natural selection (increases survival and reproduction of some individuals compared to others based on different traits)
most species are born than survive to reproduce
selection in nature is..
based on traits that increased survival and reproduction of organisms
artificial selection
selective breeding of organisms, commonly practiced by animal and plant breeders, to increase the frequency of a favored trait from one generation to the next
2 naturalists
Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace
Alfred Russel Wallace
made his way in the world by selling species he found (plants and animals)
Plato's theory of forms
represent new ideas from imperfect ideas
Aristotle's Scala Naturae
rank living things by how relative they are to humans
lowest: plants
highest: humans
natural theology
- all things created by God fit into Naturae
- prefect form of everything
Bishop William Paley
argument from design (watchmaker argument)
- organisms are complex and well-adapted because they were made by God
*all things are like a watch because the insides are designed perfectly, complex, and intellectually*
the challenge of the fossil record:
- multiple layers of fossil species
- many of these species no longer exist
- increasing similarity to modern species
catastrophism
a theory that the Earth's geological features result from sudden, short-lived, and violent events, like earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions.
- some species disappear suddenly and are replaced by new species.
Georges Cuvier
- mass extinctions via major catastrophes
- new groups of species followed
uniformitarianism
forces acting on the Earth were the same in the past as in the present
- change is slow "gradualism"
Charles Lyell
his principles of geology were highly influential: Darwin read his work
Lamarkin Evolution (Jean-Baptiste Lamarck)
spontaneous generation produces simple species that evolve over time due to 2 forces
2 forces from spontaneous generation
1. "drive towards complexity" - innate force tending to move species up the scala naturae
2. "adaptive forces" - individuals change in response to their needs (passed to offspring)
Thomas Malthus
wrote "Essay on Principle of Population"
- observations on problems of human population growth
- population increases over time (causing food and resource shortages)
key observations
- species are highly diversified
- the more similar species are, the more closely they tend to be located to one another
- many species have gone extinct
- modern species tend to differ over time
all species tend to produce more offspring than # of parents
not all individuals survive...
there is a "struggle for existence" between individuals within the population
- individuals within a population differ from one another in # of traits
Some individuals will happen to be better suited to their environment because
they are more likely to survive and reproduce
- differential reproduction is based on trait (natural selection)
- differences in individuals tend to be heritable
selection results in..
changes in the average traits of a population
- a change in genetic composition --- evolution
is reproduction required in evolution?
yes, producing more offspring is important
ex: allele frequency change --> this means evolution occurred
how will changes lead to new allele frequencies from one generation to the next?
relative changes in the relative success of different phenotypes in a population
fitness
a phenotype is determined by the relative rates of survival and reproduction of individuals within that phenotype
qualitative traits
traits distinguished by discrete qualities or genes (black v white)
quantitative traits
traits are more likely to show continuous quantitative variation rather than discrete qualitative variation -- body size - trait influenced by genes
stabilizing selection
preserves the average characteristics of a population by favoring average individuals
direction selection
changes the characteristics of a population by favoring individuals that vary in one direction from the mean of the population
disruptive selection
changes the characteristics of a population by favoring individuals that vary in both directions from the mean of the population
directional selection
is operating when individuals at one extreme of a character distribution contribute more offspring to the next generation than other individuals do
- may result in favoring a particular genetic variant
- increase in the frequencies of alleles that produce the favored phenotype
polymorphism
the presence of 2 or more variants of a character in the same population
frequency-dependent selection
the fitness of a given phenotype dependent on frequency in population
microevolution
changes within species often involve single mutations/ qualitative changes may occur over one generation or thousands
macroevolution
processes are too slow to observe directly
relying on the fossil record, the geographic distribution of species, homologous traits, vestigial traits
-harder to observe directly
mycrobacterium tuberculosis
a disease killing more adults than any other, but an antibiotic was created which reduced the deaths from industrialized countries
Rifampin (antibiotic)
a molecule that binds to RNA polymerase and interferes with transcription
bacteriostatic antibiotic
resistant bacteria have a single point mutation in the gene rPOB that encodes part of RNA polymerase which is a single change in amino acid resistance
mutations are...
beneficial in a particular environment are no more likely to appear
strategies to reduce antibiotic resistance
- restricting use to bacterial infections
- reduced use in agriculture
- rotating antibiotics
transitional forms
evolutionary theory predicts that species and traits evolve and change over time rather than appearing suddenly -- fixed form
fossils show...
intermediate step
ex: from land mammal to whale
evolution of complex eyes
living species show eye structures reflecting a likely evolutionary pathway
intermediary
how a basic structure develops into a complex structure
- each step offers an advantage over the previous form
evolutionary theory states..
new species form from existing species
- closely related species cannot be dispersed
- independent evolution leads to new related species
island biogeography
study of the relationship between the geographic features of island and the evolution of species on those islands
- remote islands support speciation because a single colonizing species may find many open ecological niches
homologous traits
complex structures and functions cannot appear from nothing but must evolve from existing structures
- found at various biological levels
ex: looking at bones, seeing how structural elements have evolved and changes from pre-existing bone structures of similar species
vestigial traits
traits or structures not undergoing selection will tend to persist, even if they are no longer functional
- traits that have lost their function in a particular species or group
ex: pelvic girdles in whales-- remaining elements in some modern whales but it doesn't decrease fitness so they persist
hardy- weinburg equilibrium
allele frequencies do not change across generations and genotype frequencies can be predicted from allele frequencies
- explains why all biological populations evolve
5 principal processes of evolution
1. no mutation
2. no selection among genotypes
3. no gene flow
4. pop size is infinite
5. mating is random
how to measure evolution?
1. each gene has 2 copies in each individual
2. at a locus an individual can be homozygous or heterozygous
3. gametes are haploid and contain one random allele from the diploid parent
4. fusion of 2 gametes produce a new diploid individual
evolution occurs when
frequencies change in a population (mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, non-random mating)
- if any of these don't happen, then evolution is not occurring
gene pool
pool alleles in entire population to give allele frequencies
expected
random and unbiased result
reproduction by itself...
will not change the genotype or allele frequency in a population
how do you tell if a locus is evolving?
- sample, observe frequencies
- calculate frequencies
- develop hypothesis using hardy weinburg
- test hypothesis
- make a conclusion (not evolve? evolving?)
if a population is in Hardy-Weinburg Equilibrium..
the allele frequencies have not changed between recent generations
- this means the population isn't evolving
non-random mating
the likelihood of 2 alleles being paired together is biased in some way
assortative mating
mate chosen based on similarity or dissimilarity
inbreeding
mate chosen based on close familial relationship
sextual selection
particular traits are more generally more attractive to mates -- a different aspect of natural selection
positive assortative mating
mates are selected based on one or more traits being similar
ex: taller men tend to marry taller women
negative assortative mating
mates are selected based on one or more traits being dissimilar
-MHC genes make molecules that enable the immune system to recognize invaders
more variability in alleles appears to increase immunity
inbreeding
means mates are more likely to have the same alleles at locus
- increases the likelihood of homozygosity for each locus
- at least some loci probably have recessive deleterious allele
- increases number of homozygous recessive deleterious alleles (reduces fitness)
inbreeding depression results in
self fertilization which is not as efficient in terms of fitness
self fertilization
the most extreme form of inbreeding -- not efficient
sexual selection
occurs when individuals differ in their ability to obtain mates based on phenotype
a sub-category of natural selection
- differences are heritable traits increasing reproduction and frequency
- matings are non-random but all phenotypes reproduce equally
MALES ARE SHOWIER THAN FEMALES
increased mating success from...
fitness but is not necessarily improved adaptation to enviornment
-- if fitness increases, the frequency would not increase
sexual dimorphism
differences in the phenotype of sexes (due to sexual selection)
- women invest more energy into gametes compared to males with sperm ( this causes women to be more "picky" with their mate)
- dimorphic species -- males are usually larger and showier
intersexual selection
females chose mates on the basis of physical characteristics that signal male genetic quality and resources or parental care are provided
intrasexual selection
males v males
sexual selections can cause...
violations of hardy weinburg equilibrium
evolution without natural selection
- genetic drift
- gene flow
- mutations
genetic drift
change in gene frequency due to change (o ne generation by chance decreases)
- not due to particular traits in the individuals that survive and reproduce
- this can lead to a sampling error
sampling error occurs due to
change of death
chance failures in reproduction
chance distribution of alleles in gametes
fixation
chance losses of a few allele copies can have large effects in small population including complete loss of an allele
bottleneck effect
population that temporarily drops in size are likely to experience drift
only a small number in population survive
founder effect
drift can also occur when a small group finds a new population
- results from a low chance that the new group will have the same allele frequencies as the original populations
natural selection favors a good frequency
gene flow
movement of alleles from one population to another
- brings in new alleles
- involves moving between populations and migrating individuals to have the same allele frequencies
gene flow can also occur between species
- between sexual species by hybridization
- through gene transfer, especially involving bacterial species
- movement of DNA from one organism to another
- new DNA incorporated into genome to recipient
genetic variation
mutation-- starts --- natural selection acts on if a mutation has a greater fitness
mutations
evolutionary change requires new genetic variation (ARE RANDOM)
- the ultimate source of variation
- increase genetic makeup
- most mutations that affect fitness are deleterious
results from damage to DNA or faulty replication
- single-locus mutations
- gene duplications
- gene deletions
if most mutations are deleterious, why does fitness normally improve over the long run
- only beneficial mutations are favored by selection
- many beneficial mutations eventually occur and are selected for
hybridization
2 single strands of DNA or RNA combine to create a double-stranded molecule
heterozygote advantage
occurs when the heterozygote has the highest fitness ( 2 favored alleles)
- this helps maintain allelic diversity even when one homozygote experiences significant fitness cost
sickle cell allele
restricts evolution
- due to a single point mutation a B-globin of hemoglobin mutant B-globin can cause "sticky molecules in law O2 conditions
sickle-cell disease
sticky hemoglobin causes red blood cells to get twisted into sickle shapes. causing deformation
- blocks capillaries, causing pain, tissue damage, death
plasmodium life cycle
complex life cycle
- one stage infects RBCs by multiplying and triggering sickling
- immune cells destroy sickle cells
- HbB/HbB individuals are more strongly affected by malaria
- HbB/HbS individuals, plasmodia trigger sickling
limitations on evolution
evolution does not result in perfectly adapted organisms
- populations can only be fit enough to survive in their environment
- more fit than competing populations to persist over time
genetic constraints
evolution requires genetic changes, but there may be
- limited genetic variation
- genetic correlations among traits-- influence multiple traits and change one trait then you change others
historical constraints
- selection acts on existing characters
- new traits much evolve from old ones
chemical/ physical traits
basic physical laws place limits on
- rate and nature of biochemical processes
- physical characteristics of biological materials
trade-offs
- biological materials, energy, time is limited
- allocating for more, for one thing, means less for another (cant do everything at once)
variable selective conditions
changing environments cause inconsistent patterns of selection
ex: leaf bud growth timing (can be early/late may be advantageous)
adaptations cant perfectly "track" changing conditions