Bio 390: Animal Behaviour

1
Check Out the Darwin Day Celebration website
(www.darwinday.org/)
Countdown to Darwin Day ! February 12th, 2009
Darwin Day is a global celebration of science
and reason held on or around Feb. 12, the
birthday anniversary of evolutionary biologist
Charles Darwin. This year marks the 200th
anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth. UFVs
Biology Department will be sponsoring a series of
events all semester to celebrate Darwin Day.
Check out the departments website for further
news starting January 12th.
2
A. Janmaat
3
Why is Darwin so famous? (adapted from the NOVA
website)
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence comes from many
fields such as geology, biochemistry, genetics,
molecular biology, and recently evolutionary
developmental biology (evo-devo). A few of his
hypotheses follow. The evidence supporting these
hypotheses is still accumulating.
4
Why is Darwin so famous? (a few selected
hypotheses)
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 1. Evolution happens.
5
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 1. Evolution happens.
Darwins only diagram in his 1859 Origin of
Species was a tree of life diagram (now known as
a phylogeny). This diagram is from an 1837
notebook. NOVA website
6
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 2. Evolution happens through natural
selection.
7
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 2. Evolution happens through natural
selection.
8
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 3. Evolution by natural selection
must have a mechanism.
9
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 3. Evolution by natural selection
must have a mechanism.
10
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 4. Embryology is "the strongest
single class of facts in favor of change of
forms."
11
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 4. Embryology is "the strongest
single class of facts in favor of change of
forms.
This quote by Darwin illustrates the evidence
that is accumulating in the new field of
evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo).
12
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 5. Sexual selection also drives
evolution.
13
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 5. Sexual selection also drives
evolution.
14
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 6. All organisms, including humans,
descend from a common ancestor.
15
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 6. All organisms, including humans,
descend from a common ancestor.
A comparison of genomes from all life forms
reveals that certain crucial genes ( 500) have
been conserved essentially unchanged over 2
billion years. This diagram shows amino acid
similarities in part of a protein sequence from
one of these crucial genes. NOVA website
16
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 6a. All organisms, including humans,
descend from a common ancestor. So
17
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 7. Humans evolved from an ape-like
ancestor.
18
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 7. Humans evolved from an ape-like
ancestor.
In the 1871 Descent of Man, Darwin stated that
"man is descended from a hairy, tailed quadruped,
probably arboreal in its habits. NOVA website
19
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 7a. Humans may have evolved from an
ape-like ancestor, but even Darwin couldnt have
predicted
20
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 8. Modern humans arose in Africa.
21
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 8. Modern humans arose in Africa.
Noticing our close anatomical relationship to
chimps and gorillas, Darwin surmised that Homo
sapiens had evolved in Africa. He wrote, "It is
somewhat more probable that our early progenitors
lived on the African continent than elsewhere."
(NOVA website) Ample fossil and molecular
evidence now support his hypothesis.
22
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 9. The Earth is at least several
hundred million years old.
23
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 9. The Earth is at least several
hundred million years old.
Australian zircon crystal 4.4 X 109 years
24
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 10. Gaps in the fossil record will
be filled in with key transitional fossils.
25
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 10. Gaps in the fossil record will
be filled in with key transitional fossils.
A.Stea
A.Stea
Darwin predicted that whales had evolved from
land mammals. An extensive series of transitional
whale fossils has been found around the world.
Archaeopteryx (first specimen found in Germany,
1863)
26
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 11. An insect with a foot-long
tongue must exist to pollinate this orchid.
This Madagascar orchid, Angraecum sesquipedale,
with a 30 cm-long nectary, was known in Darwins
time. Botanists scoffed when Darwin proposed the
existence of such a pollinator.
27
Why is Darwin so famous?
Aside from the fact that Darwin synthesized a
theory that has unified the study of biology and
many other disciplines, he formulated many
hypotheses for which the evidence is still
becoming available. This evidence is coming from
many fields such as geology, biochemistry,
genetics, molecular biology, and recently
evolutionary developmental biology
(evo-devo). 11. An insect with a foot-long
tongue must exist to pollinate this orchid.
The giant hawk moth, Xanthopan morganii praedicta
discovered in 1882, has a 30-35 cm tongue. It
is the only known pollinator of this orchid.
28
News Flash Non-Darwinian research triumphs again.
Scientists finally figure out how to prevent
bird flu