B1: Evolution (Charles Darwin and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck) Flashcards
1
Q
What was Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution?
A
Natural Selection.
2
Q
How does natural selection work?
A
- Individuals show variation because of differences in their genes.
- Those individuals who are better adapted to the environment, due to variation, have a better chance of survival and therefore are more likely to breed successfully.
- The genes that carry the useful characteristics will be passed on to the next generation.
3
Q
How else can evolution occur?
A
Through mutations.
4
Q
What is the process of evolution due to mutations?
A
- Mutations can be beneficial and produce useful characteristics
- This gives the organism a better chance of surviving and reproducing
- The beneficial mutation is more likely to be passed on to future generations by natural selection
- Over time, the beneficial mutation will accumulate in a population.
5
Q
What was Lamarck’s theory of evolution?
A
- If a characteristic was used a lot by an organism, then it would become more developed during its lifetime.
- He believed that these acquired characteristics would be passed on to the next generation.
6
Q
Why was Lamarck’s theory rejected?
A
There was no evidence because experiments did not support it.
7
Q
Why was Darwin’s theory very controversial at the time?
A
- It went against common religious beliefs about how life on Earth developed. (suggested God didn’t create life)
- Darwin could not give a good explanation for why these new, useful characteristics appeared or how exactly individuals passed on their beneficial characteristics.
- There was not enough evidence to convince most scientists because not many other studies had been done into how organisms change over time.
8
Q
What discovery supported Darwin’s theory?
A
The discovery of genetics because it provided an explanation of how organisms born with beneficial characteristics can pass them on.
