36 Questions
What did Darwin observe about the embryos of different species?
They develop similarly
According to Darwin, what led to the diversity of life?
Natural selection
How did Darwin perceive nature compared to Victorian society?
As a battlefield
Based on Darwin's observations, why did certain creatures win battles with other species?
Due to fitness for their environments
Why do finches have beaks of different sizes and shapes?
To adapt to different foods on their islands
What did Darwin conclude about variations within species?
Variations accumulate and create new species
Why is DNA mutation important in evolution?
It introduces variation
How did the fur color of mice in the Arizona desert relate to their environment?
Black-furred mice lived on black rock, while white-furred mice lived on white rock
Where did Darwin make his first important discovery?
Argentina
What was Darwin's main area of research during his voyage?
Galapagos Islands
How can locals determine the origin of a tortoise in the Galapagos Islands?
By their shell patterns
What did Darwin begin to collect during his voyage?
Finches
What was the main difference among the species of finches Darwin collected?
Type of beak
What did Darwin conclude about the relationship between finches' beaks and tortoises' shells?
They evolved through natural selection
What made the Galapagos Islands a unique location for Darwin's research?
The variety of climates on different islands
What is the primary reason large mammals are not good candidates to study in the laboratory?
They are difficult to house
Why did the paintbrush gene create spots in one type of fruit fly and not in the other?
Different genes were activated in each fruit fly
What percentage of the genome does not code for proteins?
98%
What is a gene switch?
A DNA segment that turns a gene on or off
What determines the type of finch that will form inside the embryo?
Switches being turned on/off in each type of beak
Why did Neil Shubin decide to look for a specific fossil in Ellesmere Island?
It was close to the time when fish moved to land
What did the fossil Tiktaalik indicate about the animal?
It was a freshwater fish
What was the possible reason why the fish Tiktaalik wanted to get onto land?
'To escape predators'
What was the function of the DNA that differed from chimpanzees at 13 places?
Caused a disease in muscle
What is the significance of Hox genes?
Responsible for body patterning in complex animals
How did Stedman identify the gene related to muscular dystrophy?
By observing missing DNA letters
What did inserting the DNA sequence into a mouse embryo aim to achieve?
Study the effects on paw development
How does the human brain differ from a chimpanzee's brain?
Human brain is significantly larger
Why did Darwin visit the orangutan Jenny at a nearby zoo?
To study human behaviors in primates
What did tracking the DNA sequence in the mouse embryo reveal?
'Switch' in thumb development
What gene did Walsh find?
A gene that controls brain cell division
Why do chimp brain growth plates close earlier than in humans?
To allow the brain to grow for a longer duration in humans
What is microcephaly?
A state where the brain stops growing prematurely
What is the cortex responsible for?
Influencing characteristics like language and music in humans
How did the healthy human gene compare with the gene in chimps?
The genes were radically different with numerous mutations
What is one thing that you would tell Darwin after watching this documentary?
'Darwinian evolution is well-supported by current research'
Test your knowledge on Charles Darwin's discoveries and observations including findings in South America, human embryos, and dog size differences. Learn more about his groundbreaking theories.
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