History of evolution + Darwin's Ideas

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

• the process by which the earth has come to be after millions of years of the existence of life
• Mutations and genetic recombination are the driving forces of evolution
• Includes Macroevolution & microevolution
• diversity is a result of evolution

Question 2

Macroevolution

Answer 2

• Changes that take place over a long period of time resulting in changes in the kinds of
  animals and plants on Earth
• The sum of microevoutionary changes

Question 3

Microevolution

Answer 3

Small changes in a species due to adaptations to environmental conditions

Question 4

Lamarck

Answer 4

• believed that body structures were modified through use or disuse, & that those modifications are passed on to
  offspring in the next generation

Question 5

Darwin

Answer 5

• theorized that individual differences in characteristics are needed to the slow process of evolution
• deduced that competition to live and survive in populations is of most importance to evolution
• Survival of the fittest

Question 6

Darwinism

Answer 6

• Recognition that evolution explains life’s diversity and unity
• recognition that natural selection is the mechanism for evolution

Question 7

Darwins Observation 1

Answer 7

the population size of all species would increase if all individuals born reproduced successfully

Question 8

Darwin Observation 2

Answer 8

Populations tend to remain stable in size except for seasonal fluctuations

Question 9

Darwin Observation 3

Answer 9

environmental resources are limited

Question 10

Darwin Observation 4

Answer 10

individuals of a population vary extensively

Question 11

Darwin Observation 5

Answer 11

most of this variation is heritable

Question 12

Darwin Inference 1

Answer 12

Producing more individuals than the environment can support, leads to a struggle for existence where only some offspring survive each generation

Question 13

Darwin Inference 2

Answer 13

• Survival is not random, but depends partly on the genes of the survivors
• characteristics are passed on to the offspring
• survivors then leave behind more offspring

Question 14

Darwin Inference 3

Answer 14

• The unequal ability of individuals to survive and reproduce leads to gradual changes in populations
• favorable characteristics accumulate