Chapter 4 - Evolution - Human Evolution Flashcards
What book did Charles Darwin publish, and when?
The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection - 1859
What was Darwin trying to explain with his theory?
The variety of species, not just the origin
What was the first piece of evidence used for the theory?
Fossil evidence
What are fossils?
Prehistoric remains of animals and plants preserved in rock
Where are the the simplest fossils found?
In rocks that are the oldest
What sort of selection can humans sometimes do to animals and plants?
Artificial selection
What are the differences between artificial and natural selection?
Artificial - selecting desired characteristics, human choosing
Natural - survival of the fittest
How long had life had to evolve on this planet?
4 billion years
What is the key to evolution?
Changes to DNA
How long ago did the common ancestor to the human and fly live?
600 million years ago
What are the earliest human ancestors called?
Hominids
Species
A group of organisms which can reproduce
