Arguing for Evolution by Cotner, Sehoya -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Contents Quick A–Z Guide to the Evidence Acknowledgments Introduction: Evolution as a Predictive Science 1: Understanding the Natural World: Evolution and the Process of Science

Definitions of Science and Scientific Theory Definition of Evolution How Evolution Occurs Adaptation and Natural Selection Natural Selection and Fitness Proximate versus Ultimate Causation Products of Evolution

Transitional Forms Complexity Extinction Artificial Selection Adaptive Radiation Homologous and Analogous Features Exaptations Vestigial Traits

Evolution in Action: The Modern Threat of Antibiotic Resistance Summary

2: Age of Earth

Prediction Theories of Earth’s Age

Scriptural Claims about Earth’s Age Using Seas and Salt to Estimate Earth’s Age Sedimentation Rates as a Measure of Time Geological Formations as Evidence of Earth’s History Earth’s Age as a Function of Temperature

Radioactivity and Radiometric Dating

Radioactivity Radiometric Dating What Isotopes Occur in Nature? Using Radioactivity to Determine the Ages of Rocks Other Radiometric Methods

Fission-Track Dating Thermoluminescence Paleomagnetism

Creationists’ Claims about Radiometric Dating The Age of Earth Summary

3: Fossils

Predictions We See Direct Evidence of the History of Life on Earth

How and Where Do Fossils Form? Is the Fossil Record Complete?

The Fossil Record Can Be Matched with Geologic Evidence to Describe the History of Life on Earth

Fossils in the Sediments and Biostratigraphy Creationists’ Objections to Biostratigraphy Fossilized Invertebrates Evolutionary Lineages for Vertebrates The Fossil Record, “Sudden Appearance,” and the Cambrian Explosion

The Fossil Record Includes Transitional Forms Linking Different Groups of Organisms

Missing Links Transitional Forms Archaeopteryx : From Dinosaurs to Birds Tiktaalik: From Fish to Land Vertebrates

Environmental Changes and Competition Inherent in Natural Selection Produce Extinctions

Fossils as Evidence of Extinction Cuvier’s Theory of Extinction Background Extinction Mass Extinction The K-T Extinction The Permian-Triassic Extinction Human-Caused Extinction

Summary

4: Biogeography

Predictions Darwin’s Observations of Life’s Diversity Life Is Extremely Diverse, and This Diversity Is Influenced by Geologic History

Earth’s Biodiversity Biogeography Early Theories of Biogeography

Species That Are Most Alike Usually Live Near Each Other Geographically, Regardless of Differences in Environment

Biogeography in the Age of Exploration Biogeography and Geology

Major, Long-term Changes in the Distribution of Life’s Diversity Are Influenced by Plate Tectonics

Continental Geography Continental Drift Geologic Evidence of Continental Movement Paleomagnetism Radiometric Dating of the Seafloor Pangaea and Biogeography Tectonic Movement and Evolution

Different Species in Similar Habitats Often Evolve Similar Adaptations

Convergent Evolution

Isolated Habitats Such as Oceanic Islands Are Populated by Descendants of Organisms from the Nearest Mainland

Continental and Oceanic Islands Colonization of Oceanic Islands Island Species and Mainland Species Adaptive Radiation Unique Features of Island Biogeography Creationists’ Explanations for Biogeography

Summary

5: Molecular Evidence for Evolution

Predictions Common Ancestry Is Revealed by a Common Hereditary Material (DNA or RNA) Related Organisms Reveal Their Genetic Similarity through Protein Similarity

Antigen Specificity Protein Relatedness

Ubiquitous Proteins Exist in Seemingly Disparate Taxa

Ubiquitous Proteins Cytochrome c Hemoglobin

Organisms with More Recent Common Ancestry Have More Hereditary Material in Common Than Organisms Further Removed Evolutionarily

DNA Hybridization Genetic Sequence Data Genomes and Genetic Timelines

Comparing the Coding Regions of Ubiquitous Proteins Confirms Common Ancestry

Genes as Evidence of Common Descent Heat-Shock Proteins and Adaptation

Organisms with Common Ancestry Share Randomly Generated Transposable Elements and Homologous Genes

Transposable Elements and Shared Ancestry Gene Duplication

Shared Ancestry Is Inferred through the Occurrence of Vestigial Molecular Elements, or Pseudogenes

The Origin of Pseudogenes Pseudogenes as Evidence of Common Inheritance

Shared Ancestry Is Revealed within a Lineage Showing Evidence of a Shared Viral Pathogen

Endogenous Retroviruses and Common Descent

Summary

6: Anatomical Evidence for Evolution

Predictions There Are Anatomical Similarities among Related Organisms

Comparative Anatomy Homologous Structures Structural Similarities in Plants Analogous Structures and Convergent Evolution

Organisms Possess Vestigial Structures That Serve as Evolutionary Baggage

Vestigial Structures as Remnants of Ancestral Organisms Creationists’ Criticisms of Vestigial Organs as Evidence of Evolution

There Are Developmental Similarities among Organisms

Developmental Similarities Embryological Similarities Development and Embryology as Evidence of Common Ancestry The Study of Evolutionary Development Homeotic Genes Developmental Variation Eye Development and Animal Evolution

Summary

7: Conflict and Cooperation Part I: Behavior

Predictions Behavior Organisms Exhibit Behaviors That Increase Their Chances of Survival

Tropic or Taxic Behavior Migration Thermoregulation Storage and Retrieval

Behavioral Adaptations That Enhance Survival Are Selected over Those That Do Not, Even When a Cost Is Incurred by Other Individuals in the Population

Egg Eviction by Birds Conspecific Infanticide

Behaviors, Like Other Measurable Adaptations, Can Be Artificially Selected

Experimental Manipulation of Behavioral Traits Heritability of Behaviors

Individuals Behave Preferentially toward Kin When There Is Likely to Be an Inclusive Fitness Benefit

Altruistic Behavior and Kin Selection Helping Alarm Calling Suicide Worker Castes Altruism by Reciprocal Exchange

Individuals Exhibit Behaviors That Serve Simply to Acquire Mates

Sexual Selection Intrasexual Competition Intersexual Selection and Behavior Theories of Female-Choice Mechanics

There Is an Adaptive Advantage in Behaviors That Help Ensure Parentage

Competitive Sperm Cooperative Sperm Sperm Competition and Behavior

In a Conflict between Individual Survival and Reproductive Potential, Reproductive Potential Wins

Destructive Reproductive Behavior in an Evolutionary Context

Parents Behave Preferentially toward Those Offspring Most Likely to Augment the Parents’ Inclusive Fitness

Differential Treatment of Offspring Parental Favoritism of the Sexes Siblicide

Summary

8: Conflict and Cooperation Part II: Coevolution

Predictions Coevolution Ecological Relevance Prey Species Possess Ecologically Relevant Adaptations against Predation

Coloration, Mimicry, and Warning Signals Toxic Emissions and Secretions Influence of Predation Pressure Third-Party Exploitation

Predators Possess Ecologically Relevant Adaptations That Allow Them to Conquer Prey

Coloration in Predators Odor Used to Attract Prey Selection for Predatory Ability

Organisms Exploit Different Ecological Niches to Reduce the Negative Effects of Competition

Character Displacement and Niche Partitioning Displacement from Antagonistic Coevolution Diversifying Coevolution

Parasites Evolve Strategies That Allow Them to Exploit Host Resources

Reciprocal Adaptations Selection-Driven Virulence in Parasites Parasite-Mediated Behavior and Coevolutionary Escalation

Host Species Evolve Ways to Minimize the Costs of Being Parasitized

Parasite-Host Coevolution in Avian Brood Parasites Specificity of Hosts and Intensity of Reciprocal Adaptations Host Tolerance Host Responses to Parasitism

Symbiont Species That Serve a Life-History Function Are Rewarded and Continue

Mutualism Obligate Mutualism Mutualism in the Oceans and Atmosphere

Rewarded Symbionts Are Penalized for Cheating

Penalties in the Cleaner-Fish Symbiosis Penalties in the Yucca-Yucca Moth Symbiosis

Summary

9: Human Evolution

Predictions Human Evolution: Biogeographic Evidence

Sites of Origin Darwin’s Prediction: The African Origins of Humans

Human Evolution: Fossil Evidence

Dart’s Discovery of Hominin Fossils Other Hominin Discoveries in Africa Africa as the Birthplace of Humanity

Human Evolution: Molecular Evidence

Universal Homology, Ubiquitous Proteins, and Human Evolution Fossil Genes in the Human Genome Humans and the MC1R Gene Humans and Endogenous Retroviruses

Human Evolution: Anatomical and Developmental Evidence

Vestigial Body-Parts Human Development and Evolutionary History

Human Behavior from an Evolutionary Perspective

Behavior as an Adaptation in Humans Kin Preference in Human Behavior Mating in the Evolved Human Paternity Assurance in the Human Male Parental Favoritism as an Adaptation

Human Evolution: Coevolutionary Evidence

The Shared Evolution of Humans and Plasmodium Coevolution with Pathogens and HIV Resistance Coevolution with Pathogens and Urban Living Human Exploitation of Third-Party Organisms The Coevolved Human and Mate Choice Human Coevolution and Lactose Tolerance

Summary

Appendix 1: Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859, first edition), Chapters IV (“Natural Selection”) and XIV (“Recapitulation and Conclusion”) Appendix 2: The Geologic Timescale Appendix 3: Major Species of Known Hominins Glossary References Index

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