85. THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES

Question 1

1. Before Darwin, what were the traditional theories on the origin of Species?

Answer 1

• the Earth was thought to be inhabited by unchanging
  species

Question 2

2. What was Aristotle’s view about Evolution?

Answer 2

• he believed that species were fixed
• they stayed unchanging
• the also arranged them on a Scala Naturae

Question 3

3. What did the Old Testament have to say about Evolution?

Answer 3

• it states that species were individually designed by God
• this means that they are perfect
• they do not need to change

Question 4

4. According to Aristotle, what is the Scala Naturae Classification of Species?

Answer 4

1. God
2. Angelic Beings
3. Humanity
4. Animals
5. Plants
6. Minerals

Question 5

5. Who was Carolus Linnaeus?

Answer 5

• he was a Swedish Botanist
• he lived from 1707 to 1778

Question 6

6. What did Carolus Linnaeus think with regards to Evolution?

Answer 6

• he suggested that organismal adaptations are evidence - they prove that God has designed each species for a
  specific purpose

Question 7

7. What two developments and inventions is Carolus Linnaeus responsible for?

Answer 7

1. HE IS THE FOUNDER OF TAXONOMY
   - this is the branch of Biology that classifies organisms
2. HE DEVELOPED BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE
   - this is with regards to all species
   - EG: Homo Sapiens

Question 8

8. What was Lamarck’s Hypothesis regarding Evolution?

Answer 8

• he made his hypothesis in the year 1809
• he believes that species will evolve through the use
  and disuse of body parts
• he believed that species would acquire the
  characteristics they needed
• this hypothesis was not supported by Scientific
  Evidence

Question 9

9. When did Darwin publish his theory On the Origin of Species?

Answer 9

• in the year 1859
• this was the only theory that was proved by scientific
  research and evidence

Question 10

10. What did Charles Darwin do between the years of 1831- 1836?

Answer 10

• he travelled the world on the HMS Beagle
• he wrote his essay on Descent with Modification
• he did many of his studies on the Galapagos Islands

Question 11

11. Why did Darwin go on a trip around the world?

Answer 11

• there started to be doubts about whether species
  remained unchanged over time
• the permanence of species was being questioned

Question 12

12. What did Darwin collect during his travels?

Answer 12

• he collected specimens of South American plants and
  animals
• he did this when he visited the Galapagos Islands of
  South America

Question 13

13. What did Darwin observe during his travels?

Answer 13

• he observed that fossils resembled living species that
  occupied the same region
• he observed that living species resembled other
  species from nearby locations

Question 14

14. What did Darwin Hypothesise?

Answer 14

• he hypothesised that species from South America has
  colonised the Galapagos
• they were responsible for spectating the island

Question 15

15. Who was Darwin influenced by?

Answer 15

• he was influenced by Lyell
• Lyell had a principle of Uniformitarianism

Question 16

16. What is Uniformitarianism?

Answer 16

• this is also know as Gradualism
• it refers to mechanisms of change
• these mechanisms are constant over time

Question 17

17. The study of fossils helped to develop Darwin’s theories, what are fossils?

Answer 17

• they are the remains or traces of organisms from the
  past
• they are usually found in Sedimentary Rocks

Question 18

18. What is Palaeontology?

Answer 18

• this is the study of fossils

Question 19

19. Where can we find more recent fossils?

Answer 19

• in younger stratum (levels) of Sedimentary Rocks

Question 20

20. Where can we find older fossils?

Answer 20

• in older stratum (levels) of Sedimentary Rocks