Evolution

Question 1

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

Answer 1

The theory challenged the idea that God made all the animals and the plants that lived on Earth
There was insufficient evidence at the time the theory was published to convince many scientists
The mechanism of inheritance and variation was not known until 50 years after the theory was published

Question 2

What are other theories of evolution, including Lamarck’s, based on?

Answer 2

They are bases mainly on the idea that changes that occur in an organism during its lifetime can be inherited. We now know that in the vast majority of cases this type of inheritance cannot occur

Question 3

Who does evolution occur?

Answer 3

Via natural selection

Question 4

How does natural selection work?

Answer 4

Individual organisms within a particular species may show a wide range of variation because of difference in their genes
Individuals with characteristics most suited to the environment are most likely to survive to breed successfully
The genes that have enables these individuals to survive are then passed on to the next generation

Question 5

What happens when a large number of mutations and environmental changes to a species?

Answer 5

There may be relatively rapid change in a species

Question 6

What does Darwin’s theory state?

Answer 6

Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection states that all species of living things have evolved from simple life forms that first developed more that 3 billion years ago