Mechanisms of Evolution Topics in Depth
The Origin of Species
Stop us if you've heard this one:There once was a man on the BeagleThis Darwin, studied finches and seagullsSpecies that he collectedHinted they were naturally selectedAn idea some thought quite il...
The Gene Pool
Ready For a Dip?It's time to break out your swim trunks and floaties, because we're going for a dip in the gene pool.Okay, so we can't really swim in a gene pool. Just pretend we can sit by its edg...
Mutations
Teenage Mutation Ninja TurtlesMutations often get a bad rap, but who doesn't want to mutate from a sweet little pond turtle to a massive crime-fighting ninja reptile? Are mutations good or bad? Ehâ...
Gene Flow and Genetic Drift
Just Goin' With the (Gene) FlowRemember Gilligan's Island? Probably not…and since we do, that probably makes us a fossil. But watch some TV Land or YouTube videos. When you're up to speed we'll c...
Sexual Selection
That's a Fine Pair of Genes You're WearingDon't judge a book by its cover. Everyone's heard that, right? Everyone but the peacocks, that is. Peacocks can be totally judgmental. After all, a junky p...
Natural Selection
Natural selection is determined by an organism's fitness. But by fitness, we don't mean winning a strong man competition. In fact, if natural selection depended on fighting for your life, humans wo...
Speciation
It's Not You, It's Me.Ah, the classic break-up conversation. Species have been breaking it off with their ancestors for years. When a new species, or "kind" is formed from an existing species, its...
Common Mistakes
Charles Darwin and the Origin of the SpeciesRemember that a genotype represents an organism's genes, while a phenotype is a physical characteristic. Multiple genes can affect one phenoty...
Test Your Knowledge!
Charles Darwin and the Origin of the Species1. Which of the following affect natural selection? (A) Time(B) Environment(C) Geography(D) A and C(E) All of the above2. True or Fal...