Analogy and Homology

1. Black bears and Pandas are very similar animals, both share the homologous trait of fur and a closely resembled body structure, but have a difference in paw structure.  

b. Black bears have paws that are sharpened at the end with five fingers. The black bears diet consists of many different types of foods from insects, fish, fruit, and small mammals. Black bears are also extremely hungry animals because of their choice of food within their diet it is likely that black bears developed sharper claws than pandas so they can gather their food. The panda bear has a paw with 6 fingers extending from it with less sharpened claws than the black bear. This 6^th finger is called the radial sesamoid. The radial sesamoid was likely to develop since panda bears have a strict diet of only bamboo. The radial sesamoid acts as a thumb and allows the panda to grasp the bamboo. Although both animals have a very similar paw structure there is a slight difference to both of them.

c. It is likely that both animals may have descended from early dog like creatures. They share the resemblance of dogs in some ways such as their paws and their facial structure is a bit similar.

2. Dolphins and beavers are two animals that both have tails. However the use of their tails is vastly different.

b. Dolphins use their tails to swim and maneuver themselves while they are underwater. Beavers use their tails to help build shelters or dams. While both of these animals have tails the uses for them are extremely different. The dolphin is a primarily aquatic animal, while the beaver is only a semi aquatic animal. Both share an aquatic habitat and have a similar structure to them, however it is used differently. The beaver’s tail does not provide much aid in swimming since it has webbed feet however the dolphin relies on its tail to maneuver underwater. Both animals have a tail bone as well.

c. It is possible that the dolphin and the beaver could be traced back to a common ancestor. Both animals live in aquatic environments and are mammals that breathe. The beaver may have came from the same ancestor as the dolphin but managed to evolve over time and adapt to a lifestyle partially on land.

Protein Synthesis

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Historical Influences on Darwin

1. I believe that Jean-Baptiste Lamark had the most influence over Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in a positive way.

2. Jean-Baptiste Lamark believed in evolution in the sense that nature perfected itself. He believed that with time and favorable conditions organisms would adapt to fit their surroundings and change in order to cope better with nature. With the change of nature if there were less of a need to use a certain organ that organ would shrink or diminish, if there was more of a need for that organ the organ would grow or become stronger. The physiological needs of organisms would change in order to fit the environment they are put in. He briefly mentions natural selection in his findings but does not entertain it much. He believed that species do not become extinct but rather perfect themselves into becoming a new species to live more favorably within their conditions.

 http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/lamarck.html

3.  A. If the environment changes the traits that or helpful or adaptive to that environment will be different.

          Lamark helped influence this ideal to Darwin in many ways. He believed that organisms would change their structure over time in order to better suit the environment. Lamark believed that nature would perfect itself in order to meet the conditions it dealt with.

B.  In order for traits to evolve and change, they MUST be heritable.

          Lamark’s book Philosphie Zoologique explained this idea of heredity. He explained how certain plant and animal forms began to grow different structures within them that did not match the adult plant or animal. Lamark believed in inheritance from adult animals that would be able to adapt and change.

C. Individuals do not evolve. Populations do.

          Lamark’s theory of evolution was based on this ideal. He believed that with time, along with favorable conditions, nature would evolve. He mentioned that within time and through reproduction organisms would then begin to evolve. The organisms do not evolve on their own but through time and reproduction.

4. Darwin could have possibly developed his idea of natural selection without Lamark’s findings. Lamark did not believe that species died off, but rather changed and perfected themselves. However he did mention the theory of natural selection within his writings although it was only briefly and of not much importance. Even though Lamark’s philosophy on natural selection was a bit different it had many similarities with Darwin’s theory. It is possible to me that Darwin had used Lamark’s work as an aid in his own theory.

5. The attitude of the church made Charles Darwin hesitant to release his book. At the time people who believed in evolution were seen as radicals and atheists. Many of them supported Lamarck.s ideas and the church looked upon this with suspicion. There was a fear of evolution that it might destroy the church and savagery would break out.