Unit 1: 7 - Evolution Flashcards
What is Darwin’s theory and what does it state?
The theory of ‘natural selection’ stated that small mutations occasionally happened and well suited mutations survived to breed. Eventually the well-suited organisms competed and beat the old organisms who died out.
What was Lamarck’s theory and what did it state?
‘The inheritance of acquired characteristics’ which stated that characteristics that are developed throughout a lifetime will be passed on to offspring.
How did Darwin find his discoveries?
On his journey to the Galapagos Islands he observed organisms on different islands.
Why was Darwin’s theory only gradually accepted? (2 reasons)
Many people believed in God as being the creator of all life on the planet and there wasn’t sufficient evidence for the theory.
What example of organisms did Darwin choose to explain his theory?
Finches
What affects the speed of evolution?
The time it takes for an organism to make a new generation, for example, in bacteria a new generation is formed every 20 minutes but in humans it is at least 16 years, or thereabouts.
Give some examples of beneficial mutations?
Longer legs, better camouflage, better eyesight etc.
What diagram do we draw to show how organisms evolve?
Evolutionary trees
What do we use to classify the similarities and differences between organisms?
The natural classification system
What is the largest groups of classification and what are the 3 groups?
Kingdoms
- The plant kingdom
- The animal kingdom
- The kingdom of microorganisms
What is the smallest group of organisms and what is special about them?
Species. Members of a species can breed together to produce fertile offspring.
When new organisms are found, biologist do what to diagrams?
Modify the evolutionary relationships.
_____ _____ tell us how species have evolved together in an environment.
Ecological relationships
What was the religious theory for life being formed?
Creationism
