18 Questions
What did Darwin coin the term 'fitness' to refer to?
An organism's ability to survive and reproduce
What did Darwin infer from his knowledge of artificial selection?
That natural selection could change domestic species over time
What did Darwin think might happen if a species changed enough?
The species would evolve into a new species
What did Darwin know about variations in offspring?
Offspring with certain variations can be inherited
What did Darwin call the type of selection where nature selects the variations that are most useful?
Natural selection
Which early scientists contributed to shaping and developing evolutionary thought?
Charles Darwin, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, and Alfred Russel Wallace
Who proposed that the forces shaping the planet today have operated continuously throughout its history?
Charles Darwin
Which early scientist recognized that living things changed over time and proposed the idea of Lamarckism?
Jean Baptiste Lamarck
In Lamarckism, how were characteristics acquired by an animal during its lifetime believed to be passed on?
Through inheritance of acquired characteristics
What did Jean Baptiste Lamarck believe could be passed on to offspring based on an animal's acquired characteristics?
Traits acquired through struggle or need
What did Charles Darwin publish in 1859 that outlined his theory of evolution?
'On the Origin of Species'
Which event influenced Charles Darwin's development of his theory of evolution?
His observations during a voyage around the world
What was the name of Charles Darwin's groundbreaking book published in 1859?
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection
What observation did Darwin make about plant and animal species on the Galapagos Islands?
Each island had unique rainfall, vegetation, and species
What concept did Darwin propose as the mechanism for evolution?
Natural Selection
What key idea did Charles Darwin take from Malthus to support his theory of evolution?
Struggle for existence due to limited resources
Why did Darwin consider Earth's age to be an important factor in his theory of evolution?
To provide enough time for the diversity of life to evolve
How did Darwin's observations on the Galapagos Islands influence his theory of evolution?
He noticed unique species adapted to different environments on each island
Learn about how Darwin's theory of natural selection explains how organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce in a given environment. Discover the concept of fitness and how nature selects the most useful variations over time.
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