Darwin And His Theory Flashcards
What were the four things that influenced Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection?
1) Diversity and distribution of organisms during voyage
2) Fossils: Similar to artisans alive at the time, but not 100% the same
3) Galapagos islands
4) Books
What were the two books that influenced Darwin?
A. Principles of Gology by Charles Lyell
- Enforced gradualism not
catastrophism
B. An essay on the principles of population by Thomas Malthus
- Laissez-faire "let stuff happen"What was Darwins theory?
Natural selection
Environment acts on organisms to select those individuals that are best adapted
Explain the process of natural selection.
Natural selection
- 1- All populations contain variation
- 2- Some organisms are more fit for their environment
- 3- more fit organisms will have more offspring
- 4- As a result, genes for these traits will be passed on
- 5- Eventually, the population as a whole devolves or adapts
What is fitness?
A measure of your reproductive ability
What is an adaptation?
A trait that helps organisms better survive in their environment ( Helps them to become more fit)
What is the modern definition of evolution?
A change in gene frequency overtime.
Name the five critical elements in natural selection
1- Variation in gene pool
2- More offspring produced than can survive
3- fight over resources
4- Survival of the fittest
5- Adaptation
- Change in genesWhat is a gene pool?
All variations of genes in populations
What did Darwin conclude?
Organisms do not strive to adapt themselves to the environment ( Non-teleological)
- Evolution is NOT purposeful*
What was the name of the ship Darwin traveled on?
The HMS Beagle
What did Darwin study at College?
He first went to medical school then moved on to Christ College to study religion.
What year was his book published?
1859
