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Questions and Answers
What is evolution?
What is evolution?
What are the main evolutionary processes that lead to evolution?
What are the main evolutionary processes that lead to evolution?
Who conceived the theory of evolution by natural selection independently in the mid-19th century?
Who conceived the theory of evolution by natural selection independently in the mid-19th century?
What observable facts about living organisms establish evolution by natural selection?
What observable facts about living organisms establish evolution by natural selection?
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What has the process of evolution given rise to?
What has the process of evolution given rise to?
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Study Notes
Evolution
- Evolution is the scientifically supported theory that all species of life have developed from a common ancestor through a process of variation, mutation, genetic drift, and gene flow.
Evolutionary Processes
- Mutation: changes in the DNA sequence of an organism
- Genetic drift: random events that change the frequency of a gene in a population
- Gene flow: movement of genes from one population to another
- Natural selection: process by which organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous characteristics to their offspring
Conception of Evolution by Natural Selection
- Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace independently conceived the theory of evolution by natural selection in the mid-19th century.
Observable Facts Establishing Evolution
- Fossil record: shows a pattern of gradual changes in life forms over time
- Comparative anatomy: similarities and homologies in body structures across different species
- Molecular biology: similarities in DNA and protein sequences across different species
- Biogeography: geographic distribution of species corresponds to their evolutionary history
Outcomes of Evolution
- Diversity of life on Earth: evolution has given rise to the vast range of species that exist today
- Adaptation: evolution has enabled organisms to adapt to their environments and survive in a changing world
- Speciation: evolution has led to the formation of new species from existing ones
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Description
Test your knowledge of evolution with this quiz! Explore concepts such as natural selection, genetic drift, and biodiversity as you answer questions about the process of evolution and its impact on biological populations.
