Bio 409 Facts, Theories, And Hypothesis
- 1. Natural Selection: Fact, Theory or Hypothesis? Are they the same thing? Why is natural selection classified as a theory? Photo courtesy of http://www.darwin.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/darwin.jpg
- 2. Scientific Fact Webster’s online dictionary defines a fact as “a piece of information presented as having objective reality” It is true universally It does NOT try to give an explanation of an observation, but is the objective observation of a phenomenon
- 3. Examples of scientific facts Air pressure at sea level 14.7 psi The moon orbits the earth Plants create food by the process of photosynthesis www.costaricatravelguide.com/sugar_beach/ www.aerospaceweb.org/.../moon/orbit.jpg www.2desktop.com/Beautiful_Green_Leaf_Plants_...
- 4. Hypothesis Webster’s online dictionary states a hypothesis is “a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences” A hypothesis attempts to explain a phenomenon, but still needs to be tested
- 5. Example of hypothesis Observation: ground water is contaminated Hypothesis: There is a leak in an underwater container holding gasoline. This possible explanation can be tested Examine the container to see if there is a leak Examine the water to see if it contains the same type of gasoline held in the container If the evidence supports the hypothesis, it is on its way to becoming a theory.
- 6. Scientific Theories According to Webster’s online dictionary a theory is “a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena” It is a hypothesis that has been tested, reviewed, and supported by many scientists under different circumstances It tries to explain or interpret an observation It is NOT proven, but supported
- 7. Examples of scientific theories Gravitation Theory All objects with mass attract each other Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity would view gravity as the geometry of space and time, showing that neither theory can be considered fact as there are two very reasonable explanations for why objects behave the way they do when they fall Germ Theory Microorganisms cause disease There are exceptions to this idea, but for the most part evidence supports this idea, making it theory
- 8. Humming Birds: A Beauty of Natural Selection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Archilochus-alexandri-002-edit.jpg
- 9. Profile Order: Apodiformes Family: Trochilidae Location: North & South America Feeding: insects and nector Characteristics: fast hovering type flight, bifurcated tongue, pollination Species Range widely in shape of color, bill and wings, and feeding areas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Colibri-thalassinus-001-edit.jpg
- 10. Fossil Record Very rare due to bone structure Discovered in Germany by Gerald Mayr Species: Eurotrochilus inexpectatus 30 million years old (Early Oligocene) First Species might have split from extinct family, the Jungorithidae Radiation in South America must have taken place 12-13 mya http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/photos/hummingbird_cp_5795177.jpg
- 11. Ecuador Humming Birds Most diversity is found in Andes Mountain in Ecuador Studies by Tom Smith & Chris Schneider Found two distinct populations each in a different ecosystem: Shortbilled vs. Longbilled Open forest vs. closed rainforest
- 12. Ecuador Humming Birds http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/05/2/quicktime/l_052_04.html Natural selection in this case did not involve geographic isolation In areas of longer flowers, there was an abundance of long-billed hummingbirds because that characteristic was more efficient so more reproduction of long-billed birds occured
- 13. Hummingbird Conclusions Humming Birds have evolved significantly into many species by the process of natural selection as shown from previous studies on the regional survival statuses between long billed and short billed types. It is natural selection that determines which hummingbirds are fit to survival in which type of geographic area depending on the bill shape and depending on the flower types as well. Over time, when enough reproduction occurred to display a distinct characteristic within that population a distinct species has been created as proven by DNA comparisons
- 14. Natural Selection is… Natural Selection is NOT a fact because it is an explanation/interpretation of observations, not the actual universal reality Natural Selection is NOT a HYPOTHESIS because it has been overwhelmingly tested and supported, making it a THEORY. http://www.wsu.edu/~rquinlan/basics_files/image002.jpg
- 15. Conclusion Facts, theories, and hypothesis are NOT the same thing Natural Selection is a scientific theory, since it has been tested, reviewed and supported by an abundance of evidence compiled from many scientists in many fields. Examination of hummingbirds is just one example of evidence supporting natural selection http://www.crimescene.com/store/images/large/evidence-stamp_LRG.jpg