B1.8 Evolution

Question 1

What’s the basis of Darwin’s theory of evolution?

Answer 1

Different species have evolved over times from simple life forms

Question 2

When did Darwin publish his theories ‘the Origin of Species’?

Answer 2

1859

After a five year investigative voyage around the world

Question 3

Why did people not believe Darwin’s theory of evolution?

Answer 3

• It conflicted with religious views such as creation
• He did not have enough evidence at the time
• Variation and inheritance was only discovered 50 years after

Question 4

Who was Lamarck?

Answer 4

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was a French scientist who came up with an alternative theory of evolution in the early 19th century (1800s)

Question 5

What was Lamarck’s theory of evolution?

Answer 5

• Animals and organisms develop characteristic in order to aid them and lose the characteristics that do not
• These characteristics were then passed on to their offspring

Question 6

Why is Lamarck’s theory illogical?!

Answer 6

It cannot account for the simpler organisms in existence as it implies all organisms begin and grow more complex

Question 7

What is an evolutionary tree?

Answer 7

Evolutionary trees represent the evolutionary paths a single organism can take and what it can develop into

Question 8

How does natural selection take place?

Answer 8

• Individuals show a wide range of variation
• Individuals with characteristics suited to the environment are more likely to survive
• These survival genes are passed on to the offspring

Question 9

What causes changes in genes?

Answer 9

Mutations

Question 10

How has a peppered moth evolved?

Answer 10

• Before the industrial revolution, most peppered moths were paler to be camouflaged against the birch trees
• Air born pollution blackened trees with soot
• This meant that the pale peppered moths were more easily spotted and killed by predators
• Darker moths survive and gradually the peppered moths become darker in colour

Question 11

How does the evolution of bacteria and animals differ?

Answer 11

Bacteria evolves much quicker as it reproduces very rapidly

This means it can become antibiotic resistant

Question 12

Why was Lamarck’s theory of evolution discredited?

Answer 12

It could not explain the existence of simple organisms