BSC 2010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Biogeography, Georges Cuvier, James Hutton
Document Summary
Bsc 2010 lecture 26 evolution by natural selection: what is organic evolution, the descent of modern organisms with modification from preexisting life- forms, historical context of the theory of evolution, ancient greeks (2500 years bp): Aristotle: species are fixed : judeo-christian (2000 years bp): Earth ~ 6000 years old: evidence that supported evolution. Biogeography: similar species often in same geographic region, different species with similar forms in different regions, specific traits of organisms living in certain environments, ex: thick, waxy leaves in desert plants. Comparative morphology: study of similarities and differences in body plans of major groups, puzzling patterns, animals as different as humans and dogs have similar bones in forelimbs, some structures are vestigial. Geological discoveries: georges cuvier, deeper layers contain simpler fossils than shallow layers, some fossils seem to be related to known species, from one layer to the next, fossils appear and disappear.