Chapter 8.1: Scientific Contributions to Evolution

Question 1

John Ray (1627-1705)

Answer 1

-one of the first scientists to carry out empirical studies on
the natural world
-developed a classification system for plants and animals based on anatomy and physiology

Question 2

George Louis Leclerc (1707-1788)

Answer 2

-one of the first people to publicly challenge the idea that
life forms are unchanging
-speculated that Earth was more than 6000 years old
-speculated that humans and apes may have a common ancestor

Question 3

Mary Anning (1799-1847)

Answer 3

• worked as a fossil hunter and uncovered the first plesiosaur
• work was confirmed by Georges Cuvier, the founder of palaeontology

Question 4

Georges Cuvier (1769-1832)

Answer 4

• analysed stratum (layers of rock) and realized the deeper the stratum, the more dissimilar the species are from modern life
• realized that species could become extinct
• suggested that catastrophes killed many species (catastrophism) and that these events corresponded to the boundaries between the fossil strata

Question 5

Charles Lyell (1797-1875)

Answer 5

• rejected Cuvier’s theory of catastrophism
• proposed the theory of uniformitarianism
• suggested that a slow and continuous process could result in substantial changes in the long term

Question 6

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829)

Answer 6

-suggested species increased in complexity and became better adapted to their environment over time
-proposed the idea of the inheritance of acquired
characteristics
-suggested that body parts not used would eventually disappear

Question 7

Thomas Malthus (1766-1834)

Answer 7

• economist, wrote ‘essay on the principals of population’
• key idea was that populations produce far more offspring than their environments can support
• population eventually reduced by starvation/disease

Question 8

Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

Answer 8

• travelled the coast of South America and made natural and geographical observations
• used these observations to propose the theory of natural selection
• all life descended from one unknown organism

Question 9

Darwin’s 4 key principles in ‘Origins of Species’

Answer 9

1. Organisms produce more offspring than can survive (therefore organisms compete for limited resources)
2. Variation exists in populations, most variation is heritable
3. Individuals better suited to local conditions survive and produce offspring
4. Processes for change are slow + gradual