BIOL 2P05 Lecture 1: Overview of Evolution
9 Feb 2017
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Explain how evolutionary biology informs our understanding of antibiotic resistance. Explain how a phylogenetic perspective can change how scientists address the challenges of conservation biology. What is evolutionary biology? (cid:862)is the stud(cid:455) of the origi(cid:374), (cid:373)ai(cid:374)te(cid:374)a(cid:374)(cid:272)e, a(cid:374)d diversit(cid:455) of life o(cid:374) earth over appro(cid:454)i(cid:373)atel(cid:455) the past (cid:1007). 5 (cid:271)illio(cid:374) (cid:455)ears(cid:863) Allows us to infer relationships between any species that has ever lived, track the diversity of life across time, test hypotheses through observation and manipulation. Melded 2 concepts: diversity of life has descended from previously existing species, the often exquisite fit of species to their environment is primarily a result of natural selection. Evolutionary biology now informs the way we think about almost all sub- disciplines in biology. All living things have descended from a common ancestor. Can view all species as a vast branching tree: tip -> species, branch point divergence. One of the most important conceptual foundations of biology.
