Evolution SPEC

Question 1

What is Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection?

Answer 1

All species of living things

evolved from simple life forms

developed more than 3m

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Challenged idea: God made all animals + plants that lived on Earth

Insufficient evidence

mechanism of inhertance + variation not known until 50 years after theory published

Question 3

What is Lamarck’s idea based on?

Answer 3

Changes that occur in an organism in its lifetime

can be inherited

vast majority: inheritance of this type cannot occur

Question 4

Describe natural selection

Answer 4

wide range of variation DUE TO mutations

characteristics most suited to environment –> more likely survive + breed successfully

genes passed onto next generation

Question 5

When is there rapidly rapid change, where new forms of a gene result from mutation?

Answer 5

If environment changes