Darwin And Wallace

Question 1

what is Darwin’s theory of evolution

Answer 1

• all species arise and develop
• through the natural selection of small inherited variations
• that increase its ability to survive

Question 2

what are some examples used to support darwin’s theory

Answer 2

• fossils and their change overtime
• peppered moths and their camouflage
• resistant bacteria

Question 3

what are the 3 abilites natural selection increases

Answer 3

• ability to survive
• reproduce
• and compete

Question 4

what is the pentadactyl limb and what does it suggest

Answer 4

• it is a bone structure of 5 ‘fingers’

- because many vertebrates have pentadactyl limbs it suggests that we all come from a common ancestor

Question 5

how do horses support the theory of vertebrates having a common ancestor

Answer 5

• because they used to have pentadactyl limb
• scientists look that the fossil record of horses and can trace them to a point when they had ‘fingers’ 40 million years ago

Question 6

how do the differences of the pentadactyl limb in different species support evolution by natural selection

Answer 6

• the fact that many species have pentadactyl limbs
• but usually for a different function
• supports the theory of animals living in different environments evolving overtime
• to survive in it, which could include changing the limb.

Question 7

who was charles darwin

Answer 7

the guy that came up with the theory of evolution by natural selection

Question 8

what did charles darwin do which lead him to his discoveries

Answer 8

• he spent 5 years on a voyage around the world

- studying plants and animals on a ship called the HMS Beagle

Question 9

what did charles darwin notice on his expedition

Answer 9

• that there was variation in members of the same species

- and that those who had characteristics most suited to the environment were more likely to survive

Question 10

what was the second thing charles darwin noticed on his expedition

Answer 10

that characteristics were passed on to off spring

Question 11

what did darwin write in which he explained his discoveries

Answer 11

the book called the theory of evolution by natural selection

Question 12

who was alfred russell wallace

Answer 12

a scientist working at the same time as darwin

Question 13

what did wallace to similarly to darwin

Answer 13

he also came up with the idea of natural selection, independent of darwin

Question 14

what did russell and darwin do together

Answer 14

• they published their papers on evolution together and acknowledged each other’s work
• although they didnt always agree on the mechanisms involved in natural selection

Question 15

what did wallace’s observations do and what is an example of them

Answer 15

• they provided a lot of evidence for the theory of evolution by natural selection
• he realised that warning colours were used by some butterfly species to deter predators from eating them
• an example of a beneficial characteristic that evolved from natural selection

Question 16

why is darwin better remembered than wallace

Answer 16

• because of darwin’s famous book ‘On the origin of the species’ published in 1859 which made scientist pay attention to the theory
• in the book, darwin gave lots of evidence supporting the theory and expanded on it
• which is why he is more remembered

Question 17

what has darwin’s and wallace’s work allowed us to understand today

Answer 17

• that all life changes through the process of evolution

- and that all the evidence suggests that we have all descended from a common ancestor

Question 18

what are the three different areas of biology that darwin and wallace have influenced

Answer 18

• classification
• antibiotic resistance
• conservation

Question 19

how have darwin and wallace influenced classification

Answer 19

• if all living organisms have descended from a common ancestor
• then we are all elated in some way
• so we now classify organisms based on how closely related they are

Question 20

how have darwin and wallace influenced antibiotic resistance

Answer 20

• we now understand the importance of finishing the course of drugs to prevent resistant bacteria spreading
• and we know we need to constantly develop antibiotics to fight against newly evolved resistant bacteria

Question 21

how have darwin and wallace influenced conservation

Answer 21

• we now understand the importance of genetic diversity
• and how it helps populations adapt to changing environments
• this has led to conservation projects to protect species