7.2 - The Evolution of an Idea Flashcards
Inheritance of acquired characteristics
Who created it? What is it?
Created by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Individuals could pass on characteristics they had acquired during their lives to their offspring
[Also proposed that all species evolve over time and in response to its environment, becoming better adapted in that environment. Also, changes are passed from generation to generation.]
Catastrophism
Who created it? What is it?
Created by Georges Cuvier
Global catastrophes (like floods) caused the widespread extinction of species
Uniformitarianism
Who created it? What is it?
Created by Charles Lyell
Geological changes are slow & gradual, and natural laws/processes have not changed over time
Evolution by Natural Selection
Who created it? What is it?
Created by Charles Darwin
Process in which species change over time to best adapt to their environments
