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7.8 Continuing Evolution

3 min readjanuary 17, 2023

Samantha Himegarner

Samantha Himegarner

Jed Quiaoit

Jed Quiaoit

Samantha Himegarner

Samantha Himegarner

Jed Quiaoit

Jed Quiaoit

Genomic Changes

Another good reasoning for the theory of evolution is that there is evidence in every species, not just a select few. There has been proven over time, which helps assume the influence of a . As are found and dated, scientists have also noticed continuous change in their characteristics and the in general.

Natural Selection

Most notably, however, is the constant adaptation of bacteria in their ability to resist . This works as its own form of malicious . When a new antibiotic is developed and dispersed, the bacteria that are unaffected (usually due to a random ) will reproduce and pass along that (as the genetic code is identical), and soon the antibiotic will be rendered useless in killing off the harmful bacteria.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-ZyiLP9HrbXls.webp?alt=media&token=18e8d365-961c-48f0-842a-667e5dd1ed6d

Image courtesy of Giphy.

Evolution is constant in this never-ending cycle, along with that of pesticides, herbicides, and even chemotherapy drugs. Even worse, will continue to evolve and cause that were once eradicated.

Populations

Recall the big idea behind evolution in a population level:

of organisms evolve over time through the process of . This process acts on the present within a population, and can lead to the development of new and that increase the chances of and for the individuals that possess them. Over many generations, these small changes can accumulate, leading to the evolution of new species. 👑

Ways Populations Evolved

All species have evolved and continue to evolve in various ways, such as: 👇

over time: The genetic makeup of a population can change over time through various processes, including , , and . These changes can lead to the development of new or the loss of existing ones, and can ultimately result in the evolution of new species.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F643px-Explanation_of_Evolution_v2-mSCF0OXtqlGS.png?alt=media&token=429ba284-b7aa-450c-9f35-41649497093d

Source: IMGBin

Continuous change in the : The provides evidence of the evolution of life on Earth over millions of years. of from different reveal that the forms and structures of living things have changed over time, and that many species that once existed are now extinct.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-Jdmam2ywUfKS.jpeg?alt=media&token=ff2db1dc-145e-41b0-b81c-6c95323754c1

Source: ThingLink

Evolution of resistance to , pesticides, herbicides, or chemotherapy drugs: When organisms are exposed to these agents, a small number of individuals may have genetic variations that allow them to survive. These individuals reproduce and pass on their to their offspring, leading to the evolution of resistance in the population. This is becoming a growing concern in modern medicine.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-qS1wZmbz3rPJ.png?alt=media&token=4db65d9c-40e8-44d5-8b51-22a071d3eb46

Source: BiteScis

evolve and cause : , such as , can also evolve over time. This process can lead to the emergence of new diseases or the reemergence of previously controlled diseases. For example, the current is caused by a novel strain of the coronavirus that emerged in 2019. The virus has continued to evolve, leading to multiple variants that are more transmissible and potentially more virulent.

In summary, evolution is a continuous process that occurs in all living organisms, and it is driven by , , and other mechanisms. Over time, these mechanisms can lead to the development of new species, the emergence of new diseases, and other significant changes in the living world! 🌎

Key Terms to Review (26)

Fossil Record

: The fossil record refers to all fossils discovered and the information derived from them about past life forms on Earth over millions of years.

Shared Common Ancestor

: A shared common ancestor refers to an ancestral species from which two or more descendant species evolved.

Genomic Changes

: Genomic changes refer to alterations in the structure or number of genes in an organism's genome. These changes can occur due to mutations, gene duplication, or chromosomal rearrangements.

Natural Selection

: Natural selection is a process in nature where organisms possessing certain genotypic characteristics that make them better adjusted to an environment tend to survive, reproduce, increase in number or frequency, and therefore, are able to transmit and perpetuate their essential genotypic qualities to succeeding generations.

Mutation

: A mutation is any change that occurs in our DNA sequence. This can lead to differences within species or it can lead to new species altogether.

Antibiotics

: Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. They work by killing bacteria or preventing them from reproducing and spreading.

Pathogens

: Pathogens are microorganisms - such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi - that cause disease in their host.

Emergent Diseases

: Emergent diseases are new infections resulting from changes or evolution of existing organisms; known infections spreading to new geographic areas or populations; previously unrecognized infections appearing in areas undergoing ecological transformation; old infections reemerging due to antimicrobial resistance in known agents or breakdowns in public health measures.

Populations

: In biology, a population is a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area.

Traits

: Traits are distinguishing qualities or characteristics that are inherited, such as eye color, leaf shape, or tail length.

Adaptations

: Adaptations are changes in organisms' physical structure, function, or behavior that allow them to survive and reproduce better in their environment.

Genetic Variation

: Genetic variation refers to the diversity in gene frequencies. It is the differences in genetic material within a population or between populations.

Survival

: Survival in biology refers to the ability of an organism or species to live and thrive in its environment, overcoming challenges such as predation, disease, and changes in climate.

Species Evolution

: Species evolution is the process by which populations of organisms change over generations to become more complex or adapted to their environment.

Reproduction

: Reproduction refers to the biological process by which new individuals are produced by their parents.

Genetic Drift

: Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution where allele frequencies in a population change over generations due to random chance events.

Mutation

: A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence of a gene. This can happen due to errors during DNA replication or as a result of environmental factors like radiation.

Recombination

: Recombination refers to the process where genetic material is mixed during sexual reproduction, creating new combinations of genes.

Extinct Organisms

: Extinct organisms are species that no longer exist anywhere on Earth.

Geologic Periods

: Geologic periods are one subdivision of geologic time enabling cross-referencing rocks and geologic events from place to place. These periods form elements of a hierarchy e.g., eons, eras, periods, epochs and ages.

Fossils

: Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past.

Resistant Traits

: These are genetic characteristics that allow an organism to withstand conditions or substances that would typically harm or kill it.

Viruses and Bacteria

: Viruses are tiny infectious agents that can only replicate inside the cells of living hosts. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms which can live independently in various environments including extreme temperatures and pressures, radioactive waste, deep earth crust etc.

Resistance to Antibiotics, Pesticides, Herbicides, Chemotherapy Drugs

: This refers to the ability of certain organisms (like bacteria or pests) to survive and multiply despite the use of substances designed to kill them or inhibit their growth.

Coronavirus Strain

: A coronavirus strain refers to a variant or subtype of the larger coronavirus family. These strains differ slightly in their genetic makeup but belong to the same viral species.

COVID-19 Pandemic

: The COVID-19 pandemic refers to the global outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that began in late 2019. It is characterized by rapid human-to-human transmission and can cause severe respiratory illness.

7.8 Continuing Evolution

3 min readjanuary 17, 2023

Samantha Himegarner

Samantha Himegarner

Jed Quiaoit

Jed Quiaoit

Samantha Himegarner

Samantha Himegarner

Jed Quiaoit

Jed Quiaoit

Genomic Changes

Another good reasoning for the theory of evolution is that there is evidence in every species, not just a select few. There has been proven over time, which helps assume the influence of a . As are found and dated, scientists have also noticed continuous change in their characteristics and the in general.

Natural Selection

Most notably, however, is the constant adaptation of bacteria in their ability to resist . This works as its own form of malicious . When a new antibiotic is developed and dispersed, the bacteria that are unaffected (usually due to a random ) will reproduce and pass along that (as the genetic code is identical), and soon the antibiotic will be rendered useless in killing off the harmful bacteria.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-ZyiLP9HrbXls.webp?alt=media&token=18e8d365-961c-48f0-842a-667e5dd1ed6d

Image courtesy of Giphy.

Evolution is constant in this never-ending cycle, along with that of pesticides, herbicides, and even chemotherapy drugs. Even worse, will continue to evolve and cause that were once eradicated.

Populations

Recall the big idea behind evolution in a population level:

of organisms evolve over time through the process of . This process acts on the present within a population, and can lead to the development of new and that increase the chances of and for the individuals that possess them. Over many generations, these small changes can accumulate, leading to the evolution of new species. 👑

Ways Populations Evolved

All species have evolved and continue to evolve in various ways, such as: 👇

over time: The genetic makeup of a population can change over time through various processes, including , , and . These changes can lead to the development of new or the loss of existing ones, and can ultimately result in the evolution of new species.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F643px-Explanation_of_Evolution_v2-mSCF0OXtqlGS.png?alt=media&token=429ba284-b7aa-450c-9f35-41649497093d

Source: IMGBin

Continuous change in the : The provides evidence of the evolution of life on Earth over millions of years. of from different reveal that the forms and structures of living things have changed over time, and that many species that once existed are now extinct.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-Jdmam2ywUfKS.jpeg?alt=media&token=ff2db1dc-145e-41b0-b81c-6c95323754c1

Source: ThingLink

Evolution of resistance to , pesticides, herbicides, or chemotherapy drugs: When organisms are exposed to these agents, a small number of individuals may have genetic variations that allow them to survive. These individuals reproduce and pass on their to their offspring, leading to the evolution of resistance in the population. This is becoming a growing concern in modern medicine.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-qS1wZmbz3rPJ.png?alt=media&token=4db65d9c-40e8-44d5-8b51-22a071d3eb46

Source: BiteScis

evolve and cause : , such as , can also evolve over time. This process can lead to the emergence of new diseases or the reemergence of previously controlled diseases. For example, the current is caused by a novel strain of the coronavirus that emerged in 2019. The virus has continued to evolve, leading to multiple variants that are more transmissible and potentially more virulent.

In summary, evolution is a continuous process that occurs in all living organisms, and it is driven by , , and other mechanisms. Over time, these mechanisms can lead to the development of new species, the emergence of new diseases, and other significant changes in the living world! 🌎

Key Terms to Review (26)

Fossil Record

: The fossil record refers to all fossils discovered and the information derived from them about past life forms on Earth over millions of years.

Shared Common Ancestor

: A shared common ancestor refers to an ancestral species from which two or more descendant species evolved.

Genomic Changes

: Genomic changes refer to alterations in the structure or number of genes in an organism's genome. These changes can occur due to mutations, gene duplication, or chromosomal rearrangements.

Natural Selection

: Natural selection is a process in nature where organisms possessing certain genotypic characteristics that make them better adjusted to an environment tend to survive, reproduce, increase in number or frequency, and therefore, are able to transmit and perpetuate their essential genotypic qualities to succeeding generations.

Mutation

: A mutation is any change that occurs in our DNA sequence. This can lead to differences within species or it can lead to new species altogether.

Antibiotics

: Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. They work by killing bacteria or preventing them from reproducing and spreading.

Pathogens

: Pathogens are microorganisms - such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi - that cause disease in their host.

Emergent Diseases

: Emergent diseases are new infections resulting from changes or evolution of existing organisms; known infections spreading to new geographic areas or populations; previously unrecognized infections appearing in areas undergoing ecological transformation; old infections reemerging due to antimicrobial resistance in known agents or breakdowns in public health measures.

Populations

: In biology, a population is a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area.

Traits

: Traits are distinguishing qualities or characteristics that are inherited, such as eye color, leaf shape, or tail length.

Adaptations

: Adaptations are changes in organisms' physical structure, function, or behavior that allow them to survive and reproduce better in their environment.

Genetic Variation

: Genetic variation refers to the diversity in gene frequencies. It is the differences in genetic material within a population or between populations.

Survival

: Survival in biology refers to the ability of an organism or species to live and thrive in its environment, overcoming challenges such as predation, disease, and changes in climate.

Species Evolution

: Species evolution is the process by which populations of organisms change over generations to become more complex or adapted to their environment.

Reproduction

: Reproduction refers to the biological process by which new individuals are produced by their parents.

Genetic Drift

: Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution where allele frequencies in a population change over generations due to random chance events.

Mutation

: A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence of a gene. This can happen due to errors during DNA replication or as a result of environmental factors like radiation.

Recombination

: Recombination refers to the process where genetic material is mixed during sexual reproduction, creating new combinations of genes.

Extinct Organisms

: Extinct organisms are species that no longer exist anywhere on Earth.

Geologic Periods

: Geologic periods are one subdivision of geologic time enabling cross-referencing rocks and geologic events from place to place. These periods form elements of a hierarchy e.g., eons, eras, periods, epochs and ages.

Fossils

: Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past.

Resistant Traits

: These are genetic characteristics that allow an organism to withstand conditions or substances that would typically harm or kill it.

Viruses and Bacteria

: Viruses are tiny infectious agents that can only replicate inside the cells of living hosts. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms which can live independently in various environments including extreme temperatures and pressures, radioactive waste, deep earth crust etc.

Resistance to Antibiotics, Pesticides, Herbicides, Chemotherapy Drugs

: This refers to the ability of certain organisms (like bacteria or pests) to survive and multiply despite the use of substances designed to kill them or inhibit their growth.

Coronavirus Strain

: A coronavirus strain refers to a variant or subtype of the larger coronavirus family. These strains differ slightly in their genetic makeup but belong to the same viral species.

COVID-19 Pandemic

: The COVID-19 pandemic refers to the global outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that began in late 2019. It is characterized by rapid human-to-human transmission and can cause severe respiratory illness.