Evolution and Natural Selection Theory (B5)
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Questions and Answers

What provides one possible answer to a question or explanation for an observation in scientific inquiry?

  • Scientific theory
  • Scientific hypothesis (correct)
  • Common belief
  • General statement
  • Which philosopher believed that life existed in a perfected and unchanging form?

  • Plato (correct)
  • Georges-Louis Leclerc
  • Charles Darwin
  • Georges Cuvier
  • What did Georges Cuvier contribute to the understanding of extinction?

  • He showed that species could become extinct. (correct)
  • He stated that all species are unchanged.
  • He believed all species appear simultaneously.
  • He proposed that species evolve continuously.
  • What does a scientific theory synthesize?

    <p>Hypotheses that lead to successful predictions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Georges-Louis Leclerc speculated about the relationship between humans and which other species?

    <p>Apes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement reflects a misconception held before the 18th century about living organisms?

    <p>Species are fixed and unchanging across generations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one significant influence on the limited development of evolutionary theories in the 1700s?

    <p>The influence of the Roman Catholic Church</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which layer of rock provides evidence for the dissimilarity of ancient species from modern life?

    <p>The deeper layer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What concept did Jean Baptiste Lamarck propose regarding inheritance?

    <p>Characteristics acquired during an organism's life can be inherited.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Charles Lyell's view on geological processes?

    <p>They are slow, suggesting the Earth is quite old.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Darwin observe about the finches on the Galapagos Islands?

    <p>They were similar to species from South America.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant observation Darwin made regarding fossils?

    <p>Fossils indicated a connection to current living species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was Lamarck's theory rejected?

    <p>It contradicted the concept of natural selection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role did Charles Darwin play in the field of evolution?

    <p>He is known as the Father of Evolutionary Theory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which observation did Darwin make about South American species?

    <p>They did not resemble African species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following did not contribute to Darwin's theory of evolution?

    <p>The idea that traits acquired in a lifetime are inherited.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What mechanism is primarily responsible for evolution as described in the content?

    <p>Natural selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs when populations of the same species are exposed to different environmental pressures over time?

    <p>They can no longer interbreed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT considered a type of evidence for evolution?

    <p>Climate change</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Darwin and Wallace's studies primarily conclude regarding offspring production and resource competition?

    <p>More offspring than can survive are produced</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are transitional fossils used for in the study of evolution?

    <p>To link different species together</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which example represents biogeographical evidence of evolution?

    <p>Geographically close environments harbor related species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do fossils contribute to our understanding of evolution?

    <p>They help determine the relative age of species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the effect of competition for resources in natural selection?

    <p>It selects for traits that enhance survival and reproduction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are homologous structures?

    <p>Structures with the same origin and general elements but different functions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do analogous structures indicate?

    <p>Similar functions with different evolutionary origins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do embryos support evidence of evolution?

    <p>By showing that embryos of different species have similar stages of embryonic development</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the embryonic tail in humans?

    <p>It becomes a tailbone with a specific purpose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does molecular biology play in evolutionary evidence?

    <p>It helps trace genetic materials and supports the idea of evolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key aspect of genetics in relation to evolution?

    <p>Traits are passed on to offspring using genetic material</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common outcome of mutations within genetic material?

    <p>They can create variation in traits among individuals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How has DNA analysis contributed to our understanding of human evolution?

    <p>It has traced the movement of human species across the globe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Developing Theories to Explain Change

    • A scientific hypothesis is a possible explanation for an observation that can be tested.
    • A scientific theory is a general statement that explains a broad range of observations based on consistently successful predictions and explanations.

    Historical Theory

    • Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle believed that life existed in a perfected and unchanging form.
    • It was widely believed before the 18th century that living things remained the same generation after generation.
    • In the second half of the 18th century, scholars began to speculate about the possibility of evolution.

    Developing Theory of Natural Selection

    • Theories regarding evolution were slow to develop due to the influence of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe.

    Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte du Buffon (1749)

    • Noted similarities between humans and apes, suggesting a common ancestor.
    • Proposed that Earth was much older than the common belief of 6000 years.

    Georges Cuvier (1813)

    • Studied ancient life through fossils.
    • Observed that different fossil species were found in different layers of rock, with older layers containing more dissimilar species.
    • Concluded that species can become extinct.
    • Hypothesized that natural disasters caused mass extinctions.

    Charles Lyell (1830)

    • Rejected the idea of natural disasters as the primary driver of change.
    • Suggested that slow, subtle geological processes occurring over long periods of time could cause significant changes.

    Jean Baptiste Lamarck (early 1800s)

    • Proposed the theory of "Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics," where traits acquired during an organism's lifetime could be passed on to offspring.
    • This theory was rejected.

    Charles Darwin

    • Traveled on the HMS Beagle to survey the coast of South America in 1831.
    • Made extensive observations of organisms during the voyage.
    • Is considered the "Father of Evolutionary Theory."

    Darwin's Observations

    • Observed unusual fossils resembling giant versions of living sloths and armadillos in South America.
    • Suggested that living forms might have descended from fossilized species.
    • Noted that species in the South American tropics differed from those in the African tropics.

    Alfred Russel Wallace

    • Conducted independent studies of organisms in South America and Malaysia.
    • Developed similar conclusions regarding evolution.

    Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

    • Darwin and Wallace were influenced by Thomas Malthus's work on population growth and resource limitations.
    • They proposed that competition for limited resources would favor organisms with traits that increase their chance of survival and reproduction.
    • This process is called natural selection.

    Evolution

    • Environmental pressures can lead to genetic divergence within populations of the same species.
    • Over time, this can result in two distinct species that can no longer interbreed.
    • Evolution is the process of new species coming into being, driven by the mechanism of natural selection.

    Further Evidence for Evolution

    • Fossils
    • Patterns of distribution
    • Anatomy
    • Embryology
    • Molecular biology
    • Genetics

    1. Fossils

    • Fossils closer to the surface are more closely related to modern species.
    • Not all organisms appear in the fossil record at the same time, indicating different evolutionary timelines.
    • Transitional fossils fill gaps in the fossil record and link different species together.

    2. Patterns of Distribution

    • Biogeography studies the geographical distribution of organisms.
    • Closely related species are rarely found in the exact same location or habitat.
    • Examples of biogeographical evidence:
      • Inland animals resembling animals on the nearest mainland.
      • Geographically close environments containing related species not found in distant but similar environments.
      • Similar fossils found on the coasts of neighboring continents.

    3. Comparative Anatomy

    • Homologous structures are structures with the same origin and general elements but different functions.
    • They suggest a common ancestor.
    • Analogous structures have similar functions but different evolutionary origins and do not provide evidence of evolution.

    4. Embryology

    • Embryos of different organisms exhibit similar stages of embryonic development.
    • This suggests a common ancestral origin.
    • Embryology is considered a strong evidence of evolution, demonstrating how small changes in protein signalling during development can lead to significant anatomical changes.

    5. Molecular Biology

    • DNA and protein analysis provides evidence for common ancestry and evolution through natural selection.
    • All cells share basic features like membranes, genetic material, and protein.

    6. Genetics

    • Genetics has provided insight into how species pass on traits to their offspring through genetic material.
    • Random changes (mutations) in genetic material lead to variations in traits.

    DNA Analysis

    • DNA analysis can trace the movement of human species across the globe.

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    Description

    Explore the foundational concepts of evolution and natural selection through historical perspectives and scientific developments. Understand how early philosophers and scientists contributed to the theories explaining change in living organisms. This quiz covers significant theorists like Comte du Buffon and the societal influences on scientific thought.

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