BIO 3400 Scioli
Summer II 1999

Objectives / Review for Exam III - new material, part 3

  • Leading to The New Synthesis
    1. Mendel's work rediscovered independently (1900) by Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns and Erich von Tschermak (or so the legend goes)
    2. Publication of de Vries' mutation theory (1908)
      1. led to geneticists' skepticism of the role of or need for natural selection
      2. evolution by mutation versus evolution by natural selection
    3. Between mid-1930s and late-1940s, Mendelian genetics (Mendelians), quantitative genetics (Biometricians), population genetics, systematics and paleontology were united; Darwin evolution was reconciled with this new genetics. This is often referred to as Neo-Darwinism or The New Synthesis.
      1. no inheritance of acquired characteristics
      2. continuous variation has the same basis as Mendelian variation
      3. variation within and among populations has a genetic basis
      4. geographic variation is adaptive
      5. hidden variation within natural populations is likely to be plentiful
      6. species are not fixed types but variable populations that are reproductively isolated
    4. Major Tenets of the Modern Synthesis
      1. All populations contain genetic variation that arises from random mutation and recombination
      2. Populations evolve by changes in gene frequency via genetic drift, migration, mutation and natural selection
      3. Phenotypic changes are gradual
      4. Diversification of all life comes about by speciation
      5. Genetic divergence of great magnitude can give rise to higher taxa
    5. Major contributors
      1. Part 1: full development of a mathematical theory of evolution within populations
          G. Hardy and W. Weinberg (1908) independently develop the mathematical models for evolution of populations
        1. S. Wright (1918, 1931) begins development of mathematical theory of the effects of evolutionary forces; publishes article: Evolution in Mendelian populations. Genetics 16:97-159.
        2. R.A. Fisher (1932) The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection establishes natural selection as the primary cause of evolutionary change
        3. J.B.S. Haldane (1932) The Causes of Evolution explains how evolutionary forces interact
      2. Part 2:
        1. T. Dobzhansky (1937) Genetics and the Origin of Species - centerpiece of the New Synthesis
        2. E. Mayr (1942) Systematics and the Origin of Species documents extensive geographic variation
        3. G.G. Simpson (1944, 1953) Tempo and Mode in Evolution and The Major Forces of Evolution tied paleontological evidence to evolutionary theory
        4. J. Huxley (1942) Evolution and the Modern Synthesis
        5. G.L. Stebbins (1950) Variation and Evolution in Plants
  • History of the importance of variation in classification (a very brief review and a couple additions)
    1. Plato / Aristotle: "eidos" (the form or idea), an ideal form imperfectly imitated by its earthy representatives; essentialism: only essences matter, not imperfect representatives
      1. perfection of forms
        1. observed variation in form is inconsequential
        2. no evolution of forms is possible (necessary) for perfect forms
        3. perfect forms are eternal; no extinction could be possible for any but imperfect forms
      2. "Scala Naturae" or the Great Chain of Being
        1. continuum of forms (no gaps) from the inanimate ----> plants ----> animals ----> humans ----> angels
        2. no change; permanence
        3. fixity
      3. philosophy later adopted by Christian church and gained wide influence in western thought
    2. Natural Theologians sought to catalogue all of the links in the Great Chain of Being to glorify God
      1. John Ray (1691): The wisdom of God manifested in the works of creation
      2. Karl Linné (Carolus Linnaeus) published Systema Naturae (1735) and Species Plantarum (1753) "ad majorem Dei gloriam" (for the greater glorification of God)
        1. binomial nomenclature (two-name naming system)
        2. species name consists of
          1. generic (genus) name, e.g., Drosophila, Pisum
          2. specific epithet, e.g., canescens, sapiens
            1. Homo sapiens, Drosophila melanogaster, Pisum sativum
      3. Speciation
        1. hybridization
        2. instant speciation
          1. chromosomal mutation
          2. polyploidy
        3. gradual speciation
          1. sympatric
          2. allopatric
            1. division of range
            2. isolation of colony
          3. parapatric
            1. Parapatric speciation involves a hybrid zone between two adjacent populations (this is not the same as the hybrid zone found after allopatric speciation and secondary contact)
              1. different allele(s) favored in each population
              2. width of hybrid zone proportional to s/h, where s is the standard deviation of the distance organisms disperse and h is the selection against heterozygotes
        4. observed instances of speciation
        5. mass extinction / adaptive radiation
      4. Reproductive isolating mechanisms
        1. one view
                            premating
          
          1. potential mates do not meet                
          
            spatial (geographic, habitat)	isolation              
            temporal (seasonal, time of day) isolation
          
          2. potential mates meet but do not mate	      
          
            behavioral (courtship) isolation
          
                            postmating
          
          1. mating (copulation) attempted but no sperm transfer occurs
          
            mechanical isolation
          
          2. sperm transfer occurs but egg is not fertilized
          
            gametic mortality
          
          3. egg is fertilized but zygote dies
          
            hybrid (F1) mortality
          
          4. zygote grows but hybrid has reduced viability
          
            hybrid (F1) inviability
          
          5. zygote grows but hybrid is completely sterile
          
            hybrid (F1) sterility
          
          6. zygote grows but hybrid is partially sterile
          
            hybrid (F2) breakdown
          
        2. another view
                            prezygotic
          
          1. potential mates do not meet
          
            spatial (geographic, habitat) isolation
            temporal (seasonal, time of day) isolation
          
          2. potential mates meet but do not mate
          
            behavioral (courtship) isolation
          
          3. mating (copulation) attempted but no sperm transfer occurs
          
            mechanical isolation
          
          4. sperm transfer occurs but egg is not fertilized
          
            gametic mortality
          
                            postzygotic
          
          1. egg is fertilized but zygote dies
          
            hybrid (F1) mortality
          
          2. zygote grows but hybrid has reduced viability
          
            hybrid (F1) inviability
          
          3. zygote grows but hybrid is completely sterile
          
            hybrid (F1) sterility
          
          4. zygote grows but hybrid is partially sterile
          
            hybrid (F2) breakdown
          

      This is not intended to be an exhaustive transcript of everything discussed in class; however, major topics not listed here will not be covered on the exam. It is intended as a guide to help in your preparation for the exam. When in doubt about the details, look first to your class notes, then check out the index at the back of your textbook(s).


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