1.7-1.8 Flashcards
What is natural selection
organisms with favorable qualities are able to survive environmental conditions and reproduce more of their kind
who came up with the ideas of natural selection?
Charles Darwin
How long does evolution take
a constant process; evolution occurs over several generations (descent from the ancestor, but modification from the ancestor)
how can species evolve.
by not being an individual organism. Since the lifetime of an individual organism does not span multiple generations, an individual organism cannot evolve
Why can’t individuals evolve?
Individuals cannot evolve because their genetics cannot change once they are born
scientific inquiry consists of?
making observations; forming hypotheses, and testing them.
indirect vs. direct observation
with the help of microscopes, etc. or not
what can data be besides numbers
qualitative observations; they are very important!
hypothesis?
a proposed explanation for a set of observations. Leads to predictions which can be tested.
deductive reasoning?
general premises–> specific reason. Ex: If all organisms are made of cells, and humans are organisms, humans should be made of cells.
Can hypotheses be proved entirely true?
no!
difference between scientific theory and hypothesis?
theory: much broader in scope than h and is supported by a large and usually growing body of evidence. Has no contradicting evidence. Ex. Theory of Evolution
what is the main criterion for a scientific hypothesis?
it includes testable predictions.
What are the two factors that lead to natural selection?
Heritable traits and overproduction of offspring.
