Variation
Difference in traits shown by individuals of a
species during reproduction.
Environmental Variations
Includes diet, chemicals, radiation,
education and environmental
pollution.
Diet Substances to quench physical
requirement.
Pollution Undesirable changes which
attack quality of resources.
Radiation Ionizing radiation.
Chemicals Mutagenic substances
lead to environmental variations.
Genetic Variations
Genetic differences in a population
may arise due to mutation, meiosis
and sexual reproduction.
Mutation
Sudden inheritable change in
gene or chromosome.
Meiosis
Reductional division which is
required for gamete formation.
Sexual Reproduction
Fusion of two gametes which
is the reason of variation in
offspring.
Traits
Features (similarities or differences)
of an individual.
Acquired Traits
Non-genetic and non-heritable.
e.g. language, intelligence, etc.
Inheritance of Traits:
Mendelism
Factors (now termed genes)
are the carriers of traits.
? Law of dominance
? Law of segregation
? Law of independent
assortment.
Natural Sex Determination
XY Sex determination
e.g. Humans/Drosophila
XO Sex determination
e.g. Insects
ZW Sex determination e.g. Birds
Human Evolution
All human beings present
today belong to a simple
species Homo sapiens which
has evolved via bipedal
locomotion, high cranial
capacity, opposable thumbs,
etc., and dominates today’s
life forms.
Inherited Traits
Genetic and inheritable. e.g.
height, skin and eye colour, etc.
Sex-determination
A mechanism by which sex of a
newborn is determined. Sex of an
individual also affects inheritance
of some traits.
Artificial
Sex-Determination
Modification of species by
the process of selective
breeding in order to produce
a new strain of organism.
Fossils
Dead and decayed remains of organism from past
are used to study the existence of extinct species.
? Mould fossils
? Cast fossils
? Trace Fossils
? true form fossils
Dating of fossils can be determined by carbon
dating and digging of earth to the deepest layer.
Evolution
It occurs because of errors in DNA copying
and as a result of sexual reproduction. Also
called organic evolution.
Speciation
Development of one or more species from an
existing species.
Allopatric Speciation The development of
new species from population occurring in
different area due to some physical barrier.
Symaptric Speciation The development of
new species within the same area due to
mutation.
Classification
Species classification is the reflection of
their evolutionary relationship.
Evolutionary Evidences
Homologous Characters
Similar origin and basic structure
due to common ancestor but differ
in functions. e.g. forelimbs of
vertebrates (lizard, man, frogs).
Analogous Characters
Different origin and basic structure
but show similar appearance and
perform similar functions too.
e.g. wings of bats and birds (looks
different) are meant for flying.