5.2.3-4

Question 1

What was Darwin’s theory of evolution?

Answer 1

He went to the Galapagos islands and noticed the different shaped beaks of Finch birds.
He concluded that this variation was so that different members of a species are adapted through natural selection to their environment.

Question 2

What did Wallace do?

Answer 2

Wallace sent evidence for Darwin’s theory, and they sent each other work for peer review. They published a theory together.

Question 3

What is classification and why is it done?

Answer 3

Process of sorting organisms into different groups

They are classified to:
Identify species
Predict characteristics
Find or show evolutionary links

Question 4

What are the 7 taxonomic levels?

Answer 4

Classification system
Kingdom - plants, animal, fungi, prokaryotes, proticista
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species - smallest unit of classification

As you move down each group the organisms share characteristics but there are less numbers in each group.

Question 5

What is artificial classification?

Answer 5

Classifying organisms via observable characteristics, not taking into account evolutionary links.

Question 6

What is wrong with artificial classification?

Answer 6

E.g. flower with 5 petals is a rose

But blackcurrent flowers have 5 petals

Question 7

What is phylogeny?

Answer 7

Study of evolutionary links

Question 8

What is natural classification?

Answer 8

Classifying via evolutionary and phylogenic links.

E.g. looking at similarities in DNA, the more similar the DNA the more closely related the organisms.