Physical Anthropology Ch/wk2 (1/20)

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What is the meaning of the expression "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny"?

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The stages of development that an organism goes through during the course of its life show evidence of the evolutionary family tree of the organism. For example, a human embryo has gill slits because of our shared ancestry with fish.

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ontogeny

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the development of an organism from its earliest stage of existence to adulthood

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phylogeny

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the closeness of evolutionary relationships

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Georges Cuvier

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1796. Founder of comparative anatomy; used knowledge of anatomy to reconstruct physiology of organisms based on fossils. Invented theory of catastrophism to explain existence of fossils of organisms that no longer exist: natural disasters wiped out earlier species.

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James Hutton

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18th cent. Scottish geologist. First to argue that Earth was millions of years old, based on his study of sediments and natural processes. Theory of uniformitarianism: natural processes operating on Earth today are the same as those that have always operated on Earth.

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Charles Lyell

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19th cent. Scottish geologist who built on Hutton's work. Studied fossil shellfish to determine ages of different rock strata (stratigraphy).

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Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

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French scientist, 1809. Early proponent of idea that evolution occurs in accordance with natural laws. Believed in inheritance of acquired characteristics; did not believe species were interrelated.

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Thomas Malthus

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Late 18th cent. British economist. Wrote about human population's dependence on resources: those able to acquire resources survive.

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Charles Darwin

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19th cent. Developed theory of nat. selection w/ Alfred Russell Wallace. Voyage of Beagle in 1830s: gathered evidence that would become basis of theory of evolution.

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Alfred Russel Wallace

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Independently developed theory of natural selection, wrote Darwin a letter with his ideas. (This prompted Darwin to publish his work, which he'd been sitting on for 20 years.) Thought of applying Malthus's ideas to nature.

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Thomas Henry Huxley

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"Darwin's bulldog." Defended Darwin's ideas.1863: published "Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature" (Darwin's "Origin of Species" had not addressed human evolution). First to compare humans to other primates.

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Sir Richard Owen

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Contemporary of Darwin and prominent critic of his theories.

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Gregor Mendel

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19th cent. Austrian monk who conducted experiments on inherited traits in pea plants. Pioneer of genetic research; unknown in his own time.

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Julian Huxley

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Grandson of Thomas Henry. Published "Evolution, The Modern Synthesis" in 1942. Brought together new research in genetics with theory of evolution: "Synthetic
Theory of Evolution," or "Neo-Darwinism."

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G.G. Simpson

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1949: Wrote book that presented the Synthetic Theory of Evolution to a wide audience.

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Watson & Crick (and poor old Franklin)

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1953: Modeled DNA.

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Stephen Jay Gould

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late 20th cent. Proponent of "punctuated equilibrium" theory of evolution, rather than slow, gradual change. Periods of rapid change followed by long periods of stasis.

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macroevolution

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Substantial change over many generations, occurring at or above the level of species (creation of new species).

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microevolution

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Change in gene frequency over a few generations. Change is at species level.

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genotype

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the underlying genetic framework in an organism

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phenotype

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the realized physical expression of the genotype (affected by environment, e.g. malnourishment could make someone end up smaller than genotype would indicate)

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What is another word for the interplay of genotype and phenotype?

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Adaptation

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variation

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differences in genetic and biological characteristics among organisms within the same species. Drives evolution. Caused by 1) random genetic mutations; and 2) recombination of genetic traits from parents.

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mutations

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Random changes in genetic structure (DNA). Cause variation.

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recombination

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Offspring receive random selection of genes inherited from parents. Causes variation.