Topic 6 - Evolution

Question 1

What was the name of Darwin’s theory?

Answer 1

Evolution by natural selection

Question 2

What is ‘survival of the fittest’?

Answer 2

Organisms with the most suitable characteristics for the environment would be more successful competitors and so more likely to survive

Question 3

What was Darwin’s theory of evolution?

Answer 3

1) Organisms in a species show wide variation in their characteristics and need to compete for limited resources
2) Organisms with more suitable characteristics for environment would be more successful competitors and more likely to survive
3) They are more likely to reproduce and pass on the genes for the characteristics making them successful to their offspring
4) Those less well adapted are less likely to survive and reproduce and pass on genes
5) Over time beneficial characteristics become more common in the population and species changes - evolves

Question 4

What have new discoveries told us which developed Darwin’s theory?

Answer 4

We know the phenotype is controlled by genes. New phenotypic variations arise due to genetic variants produced by mutation. Beneficial variations are passed on to future generations in the genes that parents contribute to their offspring

Question 5

What is speciation?

Answer 5

The forming of a new species due to the phenotype of organisms changing so much over time due to natural selection

Question 6

Why would species become extinct?

Answer 6

1) the environment changed too quick
2) A new predator/disease kills them all
3) They can’t compete with another new species for food
4) A catastrophic event happens killing them all