Darwin and The Beagle

Question 1

Naturalist

Answer 1

A scientist who studies and observes plants, animals, and other aspects of the natural world. Charles Darwin served as this aboard the HMS Beagle

Question 2

Companion

Answer 2

Darwin’s unofficial role on the HMS Beagle, where he was expected to provide social companionship to Captain Robert FitzRoy during the voyage

Question 3

Theology

Answer 3

One of the fields of study Darwin started but did not complete. It is the study of the divine and religious beliefs

Question 4

Medicine

Answer 4

A field of study Darwin started but did not finish, specifically at the University of Edinburgh, before shifting to a focus on natural history

Question 5

HMS Beagle’s Mission

Answer 5

To conduct a hydrographic survey of the South American coastline. It also aimed to carry out scientific investigations around the world

Question 6

Robert FitzRoy

Answer 6

The captain of the HMS Beagle at the time of Darwin’s voyage. He was responsible for the ship’s mission and played a significant role in influencing Darwin’s work

Question 7

James Ussher

Answer 7

The archbishop who claimed in 1658 that the Earth was created in 4004 BC, specifically on October 23, according to his interpretation of the Bible

Question 8

Catastrophism

Answer 8

A geological concept introduced by Georges Cuvier, which suggested that Earth’s history has been shaped by sudden, short-lived, violent events, such as natural disasters

Question 9

Extinction

Answer 9

The concept that species can completely die out, which was strongly supported by Georges Cuvier through his study of fossils, including those of elephants

Question 10

Erasmus Darwin

Answer 10

Charles Darwin’s grandfather, known for his early ideas on evolution and his influence on his grandson’s thinking

Question 11

Lamarckism

Answer 11

The theory proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck that organisms evolve through the inheritance of traits acquired during their lifetime

Question 12

Giraffe’s Neck Theory

Answer 12

According to Lamarck, giraffes developed long necks because their ancestors stretched their necks to reach higher leaves, and these acquired characteristics were passed to their offspring

Question 13

Valdivia Earthquake

Answer 13

A significant earthquake that Darwin experienced near Valdivia, South America, in 1835, which contributed to his understanding of geological processes and the Earth’s dynamism

Question 14

Galápagos Finches

Answer 14

A group of bird species observed by Darwin on the Galápagos Islands, whose diverse beak shapes provided evidence for adaptive radiation and natural selection

Question 15

Specimen Collection Error

Answer 15

Darwin’s mistake in not labeling the bird specimens from different Galápagos Islands separately, which initially led to confusion in his studies

Question 16

Endemic Species

Answer 16

Species that exist only in one geographic location, such as the unique organisms found exclusively on the Galápagos Islands

Question 17

Reproductive Continuity

Answer 17

The concept that all life forms are connected through an unbroken chain of reproduction, meaning that every organism is the result of a lineage of ancestors stretching back to the origin of life. It supports the idea that all living things share a common heritage

Question 18

Species Development

Answer 18

Species arise from earlier forms through a gradual change over time, known as evolution. This process involves the remodeling of organisms as they adapt to new environments and conditions, leading to the diversity of life we see today

Question 19

Common Ancestors

Answer 19

The idea that different species share these from which they have diverged over time. This sharing is a core concept in evolutionary biology, explaining the similarities in DNA, anatomy, and behavior among different organisms

Question 20

Earth’s Surface

Answer 20

It has undergone significant changes over time due to processes like plate tectonics, erosion, and volcanic activity. These changes have influenced the evolution of life by altering habitats and environmental conditions

Question 20

Age of Earth

Answer 20

The Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old, providing a vast timespan over which evolutionary processes have occurred. This long history is crucial for understanding how life has developed and diversified over billions of years

Question 21

Imperfections

Answer 21

Flaws in biological organisms, such as vestigial structures or genetic mutations provide evidence of a historical process of evolution. They suggest that organisms have been shaped by natural selection rather than being perfectly designed

Question 22

Intelligent Design (ID) Theory

Answer 22

A pseudoscientific argument that suggests certain features of the universe and living organisms are best explained by an intelligent cause rather than an unpredicted process like natural selection. It is often associated with religious beliefs and is not supported by empirical scientific evidence

Question 23

Intelligent Cause

Answer 23

Proposes that some biological structures and functions are too complex to have evolved purely through natural processes. Instead, they are believed to be the result of this, though this claim lacks empirical support and is not considered scientifically valid

Question 24

Anti-Evolution

Answer 24

ID Theory rejects the concept of common ancestry and the idea that life forms have evolved from earlier species. It argues against the scientific consensus on evolution, promoting a view that life is the product of design rather than a natural evolutionary process

Question 25

ID Design Scientific Validity

Answer 25

ID Theory is considered a form of creationism because it is based on religious beliefs rather than scientific evidence. It lacks testable hypotheses, making it unscientific. The scientific community does not recognize ID as a valid explanation for the origin and development of life

Question 26

Complexity Argument

Answer 26

Suggests that certain biological systems, like the bacterial flagellum or the human eye, are “irreducibly complex” and could not have evolved through successive, slight modifications. This argument has been widely criticized and debunked by evolutionary biologists who can demonstrate how such systems can evolve

Question 27

Intelligent Designer

Answer 27

While ID Theory avoids explicitly naming them, many of its proponents have stated that the designer is the Christian God. This connection to specific religious beliefs further undermines its credibility as a scientific theory