Lesson 1 - Before

Question 1

What is theory?

Answer 1

Summarizes a hypothesis or group of hypotheses that have been supported with repeated testing

why something happens

Question 2

What is evolution?

Answer 2

the process in which significant changes in the inheritable traits of a species (population) occurs over time.

Question 3

How does evolution happen?

Answer 3

Changes in DNA = MUTATIONS!
can be neutral, harmful or helpful
Helpful mutations = drive evolution

Question 4

The discoveries of fossils, we found out….

Answer 4

Simple organism fossils could be found at all depths of rock
Complex organism fossils were only found at shallower depths.
Recent fossils were more likely to resemble  living species.
Each layer contained distinct species not found above or below.

Question 5

what is CATASTROPHISM

Answer 5

local catastrophes (floods) = widespread extinctions
- new species would be “created” to replace those lost

• accounts for the separation of fossils in strata layers

Question 6

Flaw of CATASTROPHISM

Answer 6

• could not account for the changing species complexity
• does not allow for calculation of fossil absolute age