Evolution and The Road to Evolutionary Theory

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Questions and Answers

Which concept, proposed by Thomas Malthus, significantly influenced Darwin's thinking on natural selection?

The idea that populations tend to increase geometrically while resources increase slowly. (correct)
The theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics.
The concept of special creation of each species.
The classification of plants based on their natural relationships.

How did Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck explain the evolution of the giraffe's long neck?

Giraffes stretched their necks to reach high leaves, and this acquired trait was passed to offspring. (correct)
Giraffes were specially created with long necks to reach high leaves.
Through natural selection, where only giraffes with longer necks survived.
Through geological evolution, where the environment favored giraffes with long necks.

What key contribution did Carl Von Linne make to the field of biology during the pre-Darwinian era?

He argued that species are immutable and do not change over time.
He proposed the theory of natural selection.
He demonstrated that species evolve through the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
He developed a system for classifying plants based on their similarities. (correct)

What is the significance of the work of James Watson and Francis Crick in relation to evolutionary biology?

They elucidated the structure of DNA, providing a molecular basis for heredity and mutation. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the findings of Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns, and Erich von Tschermak contribute to the modern understanding of evolution?

They rediscovered Mendel's laws of heredity, which helped explain the mechanisms of inheritance. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the prevailing view regarding the origin of species among Greek philosophers like Plato before the advent of evolutionary theory?

Species are specially created in their current form and do not change. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did Charles Lyell's concept of uniformitarianism influence Darwin's theory of evolution?

It implied that geological processes that shaped Earth in the past are still operating today, suggesting the Earth is very old, allowing enough time for evolution. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What role did Alfred Russel Wallace play in the development of the theory of evolution?

He independently conceived a theory of evolution through natural selection, prompting Darwin to publish his ideas. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the central idea behind Georges Cuvier's concept of 'Catastrophism'?

The history of life is marked by periods of mass extinctions followed by repopulation from other regions. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did Charles Darwin's observations on the Galapagos Islands contribute to his theory of evolution?

They revealed a diverse collection of endemic species with adaptations suited to their specific environments, suggesting that species evolve over time. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Gregor Mendel's work to the modern understanding of evolution?

He conducted experiments with pea plants that revealed the basic principles of heredity, providing a mechanism for inheritance. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a key contribution of James Hutton to the development of evolutionary thought?

He argued that the earth is very old and constantly changing, which provided a geological timeframe for evolution. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the term 'endemic' in the context of Charles Darwin's observations of the Galapagos Islands?

Species that are found exclusively in a particular geographic area. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best exemplifies Darwin's concept of 'Natural Selection?

Organisms with heritable traits that allow them to better compete will survive and have more offspring. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of biological evolution?

The gradual change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the relationship between mutation and natural selection in the context of evolution?

Mutations are random changes in the genetic material that can lead to new traits, and natural selection acts on these variations. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How did Mendel's findings on inheritance address a shortcoming in Darwin's original theory of natural selection?

Mendel's genetics provided a testable mechanism for the inheritance of traits, which Darwin lacked. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle considered significant in the history of evolutionary biology?

It provided Charles Darwin with the opportunity to make observations of diverse species in various environments, contributing to the development of his theory of evolution. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What did Darwin mean when he proposed a mechanism for evolution?

He sought to describe the physical processes that lead to evolutionary change. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Scala Naturae' refer to?

Scale of nature (A) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Evolution

Gradual change over time.

Geological Evolution

Evolution involving changes in the geological structure of the earth.