Cornell Notes

Topic/Objective: The Theory of Evolution

Name: Anisa
Class/Period: Bio 5th Period
Date: Week of 09/21-09/25

Essential Question: To investigate how the earth and its inhabitants have changed over time.
Questions:
Evidence for
Evolution

Genes and
Mutations

Note:
~A Common Ancestor:
Fossil Records: Organisms can be traced back to original
organism based on their fossil.
Geological Distribution: Similar species but are not
related
Genetics: Comparing DNA in order to determine how
closely they are related
~Comparative Anatomy:
Embryology: Comparing embryos between species
Homologous Structures: Bone structures that have the
same development, but different functions
Vestigial Structures: Organs in different animals that have
no function(purpose)

~Genetic Variation:
Mutations: Changes in the DNA (1 mutation can have a
very large effect)
Gene Flow: Any movement of genes from on population to
another (Important source of gene variation)
Sex: Can introduce a new gene combination into a
population
~Mutations:
Mutations can be harmful, beneficial or neutral
Mutations are RANDOM
NOT ALL mutations matter for evolution; Somatic
Mutations occur in non reproductive cells
~Single Germ Line Mutations:
No change occurs in the phenotype, a small change
occurs in the phenotype or large change in the phenotype
Summary:

Questions:
Causes of
Mutations

Gene Flow
What is Genetic
Variation?

What is a Mutation?

Evolution Begins
with the Inherence
of Gene Variations

Exploring Mutant
Organisms

Competitive
Exclusion

Notes:

DNA fails to copy properly

Eternal influences (Chemical, radiation)

Any movement of individuals, and/or genetic material

they carry from on population to another

~ A term used to describe variation within our DNA

Individuals of a species have similar characteristics but
are rarely identical
Result of subtle differences
Evolution relies on genetic variation

Changes in protein
CAN be inherited
Contribute to genetic variation

~Mutations in genes are the source of variation

New trait variations that arise spontaneously make an
organism more competitive in the struggle for survival
After self-fertilizing the corn plants for 7 generations they
had a different variation and grew poorly
After crossbreeding two pure-bred plants, the plant grew
better that the parent plants

Thomas Hunt Morgan was the first to use the fruit fly
(Drosophila Melanogaster)

Morgan identified over 80 separate mutants; the first

person to demonstrate through experiments that one
gene that can be isolated into one chromosome

~The INEVITABLE elimination from a habitat of one of two

different species with IDENTICAL needs for resources. (Dictionary
Definition)
Summary:
Throughout evolution, there are multiple ways to prove that it does exist. For example,
using past fossils, we can prove that modern day animals do come from prehistoric

ancestors. In addition, mutations are also ways to insure evolution. Furthermore, without
genetic variation, there would not be any such thing as mutations. This would limit us in
evolution because of the lack of changed involved.