16 Questions
What idea influenced Darwin's thinking about the slow changes on Earth's surface?
Theory of Geological change by James Hutton
Which type of animals did Darwin observe to have varying characteristics among the Galapagos Islands?
Land Tortoises
Who presented the idea that geographical features can be built up or torn down, influencing Darwin's thinking about Earth's changes?
Charles Lyell
What did Thomas Malthus propose about the consequences of an increase in population?
Limitation of resources leading to competition
What hypothesis did Darwin formulate based on observing variations in plants and animals across different islands?
Separate species may have arisen from an original ancestor
What is a scientific theory?
A well-supported testable explanation
What was the title of Charles Darwin's book published in 1859?
The Origin of Species
Where did Darwin observe that animals in similar grassland ecosystems were different?
Argentina and Australia
What did Darwin collect that resembled organisms still alive today?
Fossils
In the Galápagos Islands, what varied predictably from one island to another?
Shape of tortoises' shells
What type of animals fascinated Darwin on the Galápagos Islands?
Giant tortoises and marine iguanas
What shaped Darwin's thinking and gave him the drive to publish his findings?
Russel Wallace's essay summarizing evolutionary change in Malaysia
What key concept derived from Darwin's theory involves individuals better suited to survive and reproduce in a particular environment?
Natural Selection
What did Darwin observe among the 9 distinct species of finches in the Galapagos islands?
Distinct differences in bills
Which theory proposed by Darwin states that over time, certain traits that aid in survival and reproduction become more common in a population?
Overtime trait spread in a population
What key concept derived from Darwin's theory involves deliberate human selection of desirable traits in organisms?
Artificial Selection
Study Notes
Idea that shaped Darwin's Thinking
- Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's Theory of Evolution: Use and Disuse, Inheritance of Acquired Traits
- James Hutton's Theory of Geological change (1795): Forces change earth's surface shape, Changes are slow, Earth is much older than thousands of years
- Charles Lyell's Book: Principles of Geography: Geographical features can be built up or torn down
- Thomas Malthus (19th century English economist): Increase in population may mean that resources are insufficient, leading to competition and survival of the fittest
Darwin's Observations
- Observed differences among island species: variation and adaptation
- 9 distinct species of finches in the Galapagos islands, all very similar except for their bills
Darwin's Theory
- Inherited variation exists within the genes of every population or species
- In a particular environment, some individuals of a population or species are better suited to survive
- Over time, the traits that make certain individuals of a population able to survive and reproduce tend to spread in that population
- There is overwhelming evidence from fossils and many other sources that living species evolved from organisms that are extinct
Key Concepts Derived from Darwin's Theory
- Natural Selection
- Artificial Selection: has potential harmful effects
Charles Darwin
- Published the book "The Origin of Species" in 1859
- Believed that living organisms and fossils can provide evidence for evolution
Patterns of Diversity
- Visited Argentina and Australia, observing similar grassland ecosystems with very different animals
- Observed that neither Argentina nor Australia was home to the sorts of animals that lived in European grasslands
Explore the scientific theory of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin and how he developed his ideas. Learn about his famous book 'The Origin of Species' and his observations in Argentina and Australia. Test your knowledge on Darwin's contributions to the understanding of biodiversity and natural selection.
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