1.8 Evolution

Question 1

What is the theory of evolution?

Answer 1

More than 3 billion years ago, life on Earth began as simple organisms from which all the more complex organisms have evolved from

Question 2

Who came up with the theory of evolution?

Answer 2

Charles Darwin

Question 3

Why did it take a long time for the theory of evolution to be accepted?

Answer 3

• The theory challenged the idea that God made all the animals and plants that live on Earth
• There was insufficient evidence when the theory was published
• Genes and mutations weren’t discovered yet so Darwin couldn’t explain how it happened

Question 4

What was Lamark’s hypothesis?

Answer 4

• An organism that uses a characteristic a lot would develop that characteristic more throught its lifetime. For example a rabbit that runs a lot to escape predators would grow longer legs
• This organism would pass on its more developed characteristic to their offspring

Question 5

Explain natural selection

Answer 5

• There’s variation within a population because of differences in genes
• Individuals with characteristics better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and breed.
• The genes responsible for useful characteristics are passed on to their offspring which also survive better.