Evolution Quiz

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