Evolution

Question 0

What was Lamarks theory and what did his theory state?

Answer 0

Lamark suggested a theory called “the inheritance of acquired characteristics”. His theory stated that characteristics which develop during an organisms lifetime can be passed on to the next generation.

Question 1

For how long do scientists believe there has been life on earth?

Answer 1

3 billion years

Question 2

Why did people find it difficult to accept and give an example.

Answer 2

People could also see quite clearly that changes in their bodies such as big muscles were not passed onto their children.

Question 3

What was darwins theory?

Answer 3

Darwins theory of evolutions is that all organisms, alive and extinct evolved from simple life forms. He based his theory after noticing similarities among species all over the globe, leading him to believe that the species survived through a process of natural selection.

Question 4

Darwins theory is that evolution takes places by natural selection - what is meant by natural selection?

Answer 4

Where the organisms with the better adaptations to their habitat survive and reproduce, and then these successful characteristic genes are passed onto the next generation, resulting in a large population of organisms with the good adaptation.

Question 5

Why is Lamarks theory of evolution incorrect?

Answer 5

Lamarks theory cannot account for all the observations made about life on earth. For instance his theory implies that all organisms would gradually become complex, and simple organisms disappear. On the other hand his theory has no evidence supporting it and the little evidence that is there contradicts his ideas.

Question 6

Best adapted > survive > breed > pass on genes

Answer 6

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Question 7

What did Darwin not know then and what can we now say?

Answer 7

Darwin didn’t know about genes. We can now say that the best adapted organisms survive to breed. They are the ones that pass on their genes to next generation.

Question 8

Why was darwins theory of evolution by natural selection only gradually accepted?

Answer 8

1. The theory of natural selection challenged the idea that god made all the animals and plants on earth.
2. Many scientists weren’t convinced because they still didn’t think there was enough sufficient evidence for the theory.

Question 9

What name is given to darwins theory of evolution?

Answer 9

Natural selection

Question 10

Which birds did Darwin observe to find evidence for evolution?

Answer 10

Finches

Question 11

Why will individual organisms show a wide range of variation?

Answer 11

Because of differences in their genes.

Question 12

What will all the organisms in the population compete for?

Answer 12

Food, shelter from predators and mates.

Question 13

What will happen to the organisms with the best environment suited characteristics?

Answer 13

They will survive and reproduce, passing on the successful gene to their offspring.

Question 14

What can sometimes happen to a gene and what is it scientifically known as?

Answer 14

Sometimes a gene accidentally changes and becomes a new form of the gene. These changes are called mutations.

Question 15

Why are mutated genes sometimes an advantage?

Answer 15

If the environment changes the gene may control a characteristic which makes the organism better adapted to the conditions.

Question 16

Mutation>variation>best adapted>survival > breed> genes passed onto offspring

Answer 16

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Question 17

What are the main kingdoms of living organisms?

Answer 17

Animals plants microorganisms

Question 18

Why is it useful to draw evolutionary trees?

Answer 18

They show the relationships between different groups of organism. And to see if any species had common ancestors.

Question 19

What is meant by evolution?

Answer 19

The idea that simple organisms have developed from simple life forms and have evolved over time.

Question 20

What is the main difference between Lamarks theory of evolution and darwins theory?

Answer 20

Lamark suggested that characteristics which developed during the lifetime of the organism could be passed on. Darwin said that organisms with the best characteristics survived to breed and the offspring inherited the characteristics.

Question 21

Why is there variation between members of the same species?

Answer 21

If the offspring are produced by sexual reproduction, then the genes of both parents are inherited in different combinations when gametes fuse.

Question 22

How did giraffes evolve to have long necks?

Answer 22

Within a population of giraffes there is variation due to mutation. The long necked giraffes are at a selective advantage compared to the short necked giraffes as it can eat more leaves from the tall trees. Therefore it is more likely to survive and reproduce. And pass on the gene for the long neck. Over time the population of giraffes evolve longer necks.