Simon Howden

Applied EvolutionWhy Evolution Matters

Belize Evolution Education Workshops, Nov. 2012

Evolution – A Definition (or three)

• Variation of inherited traits within a population over time as a consequence of mutation, genetic recombination, or gene flow

• Descent with modification• Change over time

Evolution helps explain…

• The diversity of life on Earth• How new species are formed• Why organisms look and behave

the way they do• How organisms respond to

changes in their environment• Why some groups of organisms

are more diverse than others

• Mutation – Random changes in DNA sequence

• Natural selection• Genetic Drift – Change in

gene pool due to chance• Gene Flow – Change in

allele frequency due to migration

Forces That Drive Evolution

How does all this affect me?Why does evolution matter?

How is it relevant to me and my life?

Applied Evolution

Using an understanding of the principles of evolution to solve real-life

problems and challenges, make improvements to the world around us,

or improve our everyday lives.

Applied Evolution

Medicine

TechnologySimon Howden

Forensics

Agriculture

Conservation

Applied Evolution – Medicine and Health

• Combating infectious diseases

• Developing new vaccines• Understanding and

overcoming antibiotic resistance

• Developing new drugs and medicines

Applied Evolution – Medicine and Health

• Case study examining lactose intolerance

• Addresses evolution/natural selection, genetics/inheritance, biochemistry, medicine, nutrition, agriculture, anthropology

“When Milk Makes You Sick”http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/tp.milk3.html

Applied Evolution – Conservation Biology

• Understanding extinction patterns

• Predicting future extinctions and extinction risks

• Developing strategies to protect endangered species

Applied Evolution – Conservation Biology

• Case study examining illegal whaling activity

• Involves evolution/phylogenetic trees, DNA sequencing/barcoding, conservation biology, forensics

“Mystery Meat”www.paleobio.org/MysteryMeat/MysteryMeat-Teacher.pdf

Kujira in a Japanese market

Applied Evolution – Conservation Biology“Mystery Meat”

www.paleobio.org/MysteryMeat/MysteryMeat-Unknowns.html

Applied Evolution – Conservation Biology“Mystery Meat”

www.paleobio.org/MysteryMeat/MysteryMeat-Unknowns.html

Applied Evolution – Conservation Biology“Mystery Meat”

www.paleobio.org/MysteryMeat/MysteryMeat-Unknowns.html

Applied Evolution – Forensic Science

Simon Howden

• Analyzing and characterizing evidence

• Using phylogenetic approaches to establish guilt or innocence

Applied Evolution - Agriculture

• Improving strategies for crop rotation

• Refining selective breeding processes

• Developing new pesticides

Applied Evolution – Computers and Technology

Simon Howden

• Developing new programs and systems

• Software engineering• “Competitive software”,

evolutionary genetic algorithms (software that is improved via small, sequential mutations

Questions?