B1.8 Evolution Flashcards
What does Darwin’s theory of evolution state?
All living things have evolved from simple life forms that first developed more than three billion years ago
Why was the theory of evolution originally not accepted?
It challenged the idea of God, there was insufficient evidence at the time, the mechanisms of inheritance and variation was not yet known
What is Lamarck’s theory?
Changes in characteristics can occur by the consistent use of a characteristic causing it to develop over time. These changes in an organism’s lifetime can be inherited in offspring
What is an example of Lamarck’s theory?
A giraffe extending its neck so much that it gets longer. Or a rabbit using its legs to run so much that they become longer. These developments would be passed onto the next generation
What does studying similarities and differences between organisms allow us to do?
Classify living organisms into animals, plants and microorganisms
What does looking at similarities help us to understand?
Evolutionary relationships and suggest relationships between organisms
Why might species’ show a wide variation?
Individual organisms have differences in their genes
Individuals with characteristics most suited to the environment are…
More likely to survive and breed successfully
Genes which enable individuals to survive are then…
Passed on to the next generation
What are evolutionary trees used to show?
The relationships between organisms
What is a mutation?
A change in an organisms DNA
What can mutations result in?
Beneficial new characteristics which allow organisms to survive and pass them onto their offspring
New genes by mutations may result in a rapid…
Change in a species if the environment changes
