Today in class we have started a new topic on evolution. I have always believed evolution and anything to do with fossils are a part of paleontology; apparently, I was wrong as we focused a lot on how genes and DNA affects on organism's adaptations and development over time.
Formation Of A Fossil:
1. Organism dies, bones must remain
2. Bones buried within sedimentary rocks
3. Bones/shells are preserved,sometimes through crystallization
4. After movement of rocks over a long period of time,old fossils are buried deeper whilst newer ones from above
5. Fossils can be discovered through weathering, erosion and other natural means.
Or just paleontologists digging.
Oldest rocks at bottom, newest at top
With the discovery of fossils Charles Darwin formulated a theory of evolution.
Before class, we watched a video describing the definition of a theory. A theory is formed
by a hypothesis, observation, evidence, and conclusion. Homology is a term used to describe
the similar structures of different organisms in order to determine any common ancestries.
Organisms mutate through millions of years in order to adapt to the ever-changing living
environments. When the structure of 2 different animals show qualities of similarity, they
are called analogous structures. An example could be the dragonfly and a bird, which both have wings but possess vastly different skeletons.
We also learned about how to prove the theory of evolution. We learned and read about the Tiktaalik,
a fish that was also amphibian. The Tiktaalik served as a missling link between the transition
of sea-living organisms to land-dwellers. It shared common characteristics of fish and early
amphibians. For example, it had a limbs that resembled a fish's fin, however they allowed
the titaalik to swim in shallow water and also move on land. Soon becoming an amphibian.
a fish that was also amphibian. The Tiktaalik served as a missling link between the transition
of sea-living organisms to land-dwellers. It shared common characteristics of fish and early
amphibians. For example, it had a limbs that resembled a fish's fin, however they allowed
the titaalik to swim in shallow water and also move on land. Soon becoming an amphibian.
The Titaalik
We also did an activity in class where we analyzed the biomedical evidence of different organisms,
such as DNA and protein. Finally we have reached the biology part of evolution. By comparing a
chemical named cytochrome C in different organisms, we can construct a detailed graph and cladogram
to determine which organisms are closely related to each other. The less differences, the more similar
2 organisms are, and thereby proving that the 2 organisms have a common ancestor.
We also did an activity in class where we analyzed the biomedical evidence of different organisms,
such as DNA and protein. Finally we have reached the biology part of evolution. By comparing a
chemical named cytochrome C in different organisms, we can construct a detailed graph and cladogram
to determine which organisms are closely related to each other. The less differences, the more similar
2 organisms are, and thereby proving that the 2 organisms have a common ancestor.
We spent a long time compiling a list like this, determining the differences
between strands of cytochrome c from different animals.
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