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Anth 260: Introduction to Biological Anthropology Lab #1: Darwin’s Dangerous Idea Directions: Answer the questions starting on page 2 with complete sentences while watching the PBS Evolution film, “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea.” Note that this episode includes some historical reenactments from Darwin’s life. These help to provide historical context, but many of the answers to the questions below are found in the scientific segments between the reenactments. You can access the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUCxWMtK9CY Backup link in case the first one doesn’t work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCOc7Xqj-kQ Charles Darwin was educated as an Anglican clergyman and strongly held to a literal interpretation of the Bible prior to beginning his career as a naturalist. He established the theory of natural selection following a 5- year research expedition of South America and the Galapagos Islands. Robert Fitzroy captained the HMS Beagle. He selected Darwin to accompany him because he was looking for someone who shared his interest in science. He was a deeply religious man and felt guilty for playing a role in the development of the theory of evolution. Erasmus Darwin , nicknamed “Ras,” is the older brother of Charles Darwin. (Note, he is named after their grandfather, who was also Erasmus Darwin.) He supported and encouraged his brother throughout the development of his theory. Bishop Samuel Wilberforce was a Bishop of Oxford, a member of the house of Lords, and a Fellow of the Royal Society – one of the oldest scientific societies in existence. He was considered one of the greatest speakers in England and harshly criticized Darwin’s theory. Emma (Wedgwood) Darwin was the wife and first cousin of Charles Darwin. Richard Owen was an anatomist who founded the British Museum of Natural History in London. He was one of Darwin’s greatest critics, agreeing that evolution had occurred but by different mechanisms than random change and natural selection. Modified from worksheet downloaded from http://www.aurumscience.com /evolution.html 1

Thomas Henry Huxley , also known as “Darwin’s bulldog,” debated Bishop Wilberforce in what would become a key moment in wider acceptance of evolution. Modified from worksheet downloaded from http://www.aurumscience.com /evolution.html 2

Questions Provide written answers to the following questions in a separate word document. It will be helpful to read the questions before watching the film, as this will allow you to focus your note-taking on the parts of the film that speak directly to the questions you are to answer. In fact, you might want to use this worksheet to take notes during the film. You can write your notes in the spaces provided. But be sure to type up your answers in complete sentences in the document you submit. Be as thorough as possible with your answers. 1. If the geology of the Earth changes over millions of years, then it follows that living populations might also need to change with it. Describe how Darwin made the connection between gradualism in geology and the appearance of new species using the finches he collected on the different islands of Galapagos. Darwin felt that given enough time, anything could happen. Mountains would raise, new species would evolve. He used the example of finches to demonstrate this hypothesis. Some had evolved to have longer beaks, allowing them to crack open nuts, while some had shorter beaks, allowing them to feed on insects. Each of these food resources were found on the respective finches’ islands. Darwin theorized that species evolve and adapt to increase their chances of survival within their environments. 2. Biologist Chris Schneider uses the example of the leaf mantis in the rainforests of Ecuador to illustrate the concept of adaptation by means of natural selection. How is his mantis (right) “highly modified” compared to the ones in North America (left)? How would these modifications give it an advantage in the rainforests of Ecuador? Schneider’s mantis is “highly modified” by having evolved to blend into its surroundings. It lives in a green, leafy forest and having evolved to look like a leaf, its chances of survival increase exponentially. It can blend into its surroundings, hiding from predators. An increase in the species’ survival rate in turn increases the species’ ability to survive long-term. 3. Describe the differences in climate between the low-lying rainforest and the high-elevation grasslands near the Andes Mountains. What kinds of adaptations have the scientists found in hummingbirds that have allowed them to colonize these different ecosystems? Modified from worksheet downloaded from http://www.aurumscience.com /evolution.html 3

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At almost 2 miles above sea level, the higher elevations in the Andes Mountains contain cool, grasslands. This area does not experience changing seasons but does experience temperatures below freezing nightly. In the lower elevations, the Andes Mountains are more like a rainforest. Scientists have found that some hummingbirds can drop their body temperature by 50 degrees and go into hibernation on a nightly basis to survive at higher elevations. The hummingbirds’ beaks have also adapted to be longer which allows them to extract nectar from longer flowers, allowing them to move between environments. 4. At what point are two closely related organisms (such as the hummingbirds) considered separate species? Two closely related organisms are considered separate species when they can no longer reproduce together. 5. Describe the mechanism of natural selection using the ideas of variation, competition for limited resources, and differential reproduction. Natural selection is the theory that everything living adapts and changes in order to best survive in their given environment. Variation is the concept that the more changes there are in a species’ gene pool, the more options there are for natural selection to choose the best qualities for a species. Competition for limited resources is the concept that a specific resource (like a food source, for example) is scarce, thus creating competition both between ones in a single species and other species. Differential reproduction is the theory that individuals of a specific species with favorable traits have a competitive advantage over those who do not. This leads to those with favorable traits being the ones that reproduce and survive, allowing these traits to be passed on. 6. The eye is cited by many as a “perfect” organ – evidence that the hand of God must have guided the creation of man. Though impressive, the eye is not a “perfect” organ (there is no such thing). Identify the ways in which the human eye is imperfect, and then explain why these imperfections are important to understanding its evolution. Modified from worksheet downloaded from http://www.aurumscience.com /evolution.html 4

The eye’s imperfections include the space between the retina and the back of the eye where jelly can accumulate and cause a retinal tear or retinal detachment, nerve cells and blood vessels that lie in front of the retina which interferes with the ability to form sharp images, and the optic nerve that connects to the brain through a hole in the retina which creates a small blind spot in the middle of the field of vision. Evolution does not allow for the redesign of an organ, like an eye, so even though it is very advanced, it is not perfect. This hints at the blind process of natural selection. 7. What additional evidence has emerged since the publication of Darwin’s book to support the close evolutionary relationship between humans and chimpanzees? Do you think his idea would have been even more popular had this kind of evidence been known to researchers at the time? Why, or why not? Since the publication of Darwin’s book, additional evidence which compares fossil records and DNA evidence between humans and chimpanzees has been published. These studies lead to the reasonable conclusion that both species came from a common ancestor. I do feel that had this information been available during Darwin’s life it would have aided in the popularity of his theory. This evidence is nearly irrefutable. Modified from worksheet downloaded from http://www.aurumscience.com /evolution.html 5

Lab1

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