Topic 6 Evolutions Flashcards
Who created the theory of evolution
Charles darwin
What is the theory of evolution
All of todays species have evolved from simple life forms that first started to develop over three billion years ago
What did Darwin know
That organisms in a species show a wide variation in their characteristics (phenotypic variation)
He also knew that organisms have to compete for limited resources in an ecosystem
What did Darwin conclude
That organisms with the most suitable characteristics for the environment would be more successful competitor and more likely to survive
This was called survival of the fittest
What are the organisms that survive more likely to do
Reproduce and pass on the genes for characteristics that made them successful to their offspring
What happens to organisms that aren’t as well adapted
Less likely to survive and reproduce so they are less likely to pass on their characteristics to the next generations
What happens to beneficial characteristic over time
Become more common in the population and the species changes (evolves)
What is speciation
Every longtime Pheno type of organisms can change so much because of natural selection but completely new species is formed
What can cause extinction
Environment changes
new predator
new diseases
competition for food
a catastrophic event hunting
Why did not everyone agree with Darwin
It went against common religious beliefs on however developed it was the first plausible explanation for existence on Earth without the creator
Darwin can explain why these new useful characteristics appears or how they were passed on he didn’t know anything about genes or mutation
Wasn’t enough evidence to convince many scientists because not many others studies have been done into how organisms change over time
What was Darwin’s book called
On the origin of species
Who had a different scientific hypotheses about evolution around the same time
Lamarck 
What does Lamark argue
Changes that an organism requires during its lifetime will be passed on to its offspring
If a characteristic was used a lot by an organism then it would become more developed during its lifetime on the organisms offspring would inherit the acquired characteristic
Why was lamarks hypothesis eventually rejected
Experiments didn’t support his hypothesis e.g. if you die hamsters fair bright pink its offspring will still be born with normal colour fur
Why was the discovery of genetics important for Darwin
It supported his idea and provide an explanation of how organisms form with beneficial characteristics can pass them on
