Year 8 Evolution Flashcards
What is evolution?
All species on Earth have gradually developed over millions of years from the simplest living things to the complex variety of life we see today.
What did evolution start with ?
Unicellular organism
How do organisms evolve ?
Survival of the fittest-therefore in the next generation organisms with good adaptations
How did giraffes evolve ?
The neck length to reach up to the height trees to eat.
Summarise natural selection
Individuals with a better adapted will survive they pass their traits onto their offspring This is a gradual change in characteristics.
Why was Darwin’s theory gradually accepted instead of straight away? 
It went against the religious beliefs of the time that God created earth.
Lack of evidence at the time .
What is evidence for Darwin’s theory today?
Fossils, DNA testing, antibiotic resistance is evolving in front of our eyes in bacteria.
What does extinction mean?
No individuals of a species are alive today
Name, one piece of evidence to show that dinosaurs ever existed
There are fossils
State three theories for the extinction of the dinosaurs 
Climate change, asteroid, super volcanic eruption.
Describe other factors that may lead to the extinction of other species
A new introduction of another species, changes to the environment it lives in, outbreak of a new disease, increased competition for resources and habitats been destroyed
What is the difference between a theory and a fact?
A theory is something that someone has come up with, and it can’t be proved or disproved, and a fact is something that has been proved or disproved.
What is biodiversity?
The enormous variety of living things on Earth
Why is it important to maintain biodiversity of the Earth?
A large variety of species will cope better without threats
Give some examples of of extinct species?
Woolly mammoth, dodo, Tasmanian, Sabre tooth tiger, dinosaurs, wood cycad, calamites, ammonite
What are the effects of extinction on biodiversity?
When a species becomes extinct biodiversity is reduced. Biodiversity is important for the maintaining populations. The greater variety of species are less likely it’ll become extinct.
What can be done to protect endangered species and prevent extinction? 
Have captive breeding in zoos, protect their habitat, education, and laws to protect species. 
How could reduce amount of light and heat caused the extinction of plants?
The plant doesn’t get any chlorophyll too much heat. It will mean the water will evaporate.
How could the extinction of plants have caused the extinction of some animals?
The animals who eat plants died and the animals who eat the animals, who eat plants, have nothing to eat, so they will die.
How do you know what types of animals live in the hundreds of millions of years ago?
Fossils
How many years ago did the most recent mass extinction happen ?
65 years ago
Which scientific first proposal theory of evolution ?
Charles Darwin
How do survival rates differ for successful adaptation ?
Successful adaptation is higher when survival rates are also as high this is because the animal has their entire life to adapt.
Create a simple evolutionary sequence
Ammonite, nautilus, limpet, snail and slug
What is the definition of peer review ?
The work has been looked at by other scientists, who then agree with the conclusions
