Chapter 15 Darwin And Evolution Flashcards
(25 cards)
Who is Charles Darwin?
The scientist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.
What was the HMS Beagle?
The ship Darwin sailed on to explore the world.
What are the Galapagos Islands?
Islands where Darwin saw animals that helped him come up with his ideas on evolution.
What is natural selection?
When organisms with helpful traits survive and pass them on.
What is fitness in evolution?
How well an organism survives and reproduces in its environment.
What is an adaptation?
A trait that helps an organism survive better.
What is biogeography?
The study of where plants and animals live.
What are fossils?
Remains of old organisms that show how life changed over time.
What are transitional fossils?
Fossils that show traits of both older and newer species.
What are homologous structures?
Body parts in different species that are similar because of a common ancestor.
What are analogous structures?
Body parts that look alike but evolved separately (not from a common ancestor).
What are Homeobox genes?
Genes that control the body plan and structure during development.
Who was Georges Cuvier?
Believed in catastrophism—big disasters shaped Earth and caused extinctions.
Who was Jean-Baptiste Lamarck?
Believed traits were passed on if used a lot (like muscles), but he was wrong.
Who was Charles Lyell?
Believed the Earth changed slowly over time (uniformitarianism).
Who was Thomas Malthus?
Said populations grow faster than resources, so some individuals will not survive.
Who was James Hutton?
Said Earth is shaped by slow processes over a long time.
What is catastrophism?
The idea that sudden disasters shaped Earth’s history.
What is uniformitarianism?
The idea that slow, continuous processes shape Earth over time.
What is the inheritance of acquired characteristics?
Lamarck’s idea that you can pass on traits you gain during life (which isn’t true).
What did Darwin observe on the HMS Beagle?
Different species adapted to their environments.
What were other scientists’ views before Darwin?
Lamarck = use/disuse.
Lyell = Earth changes slowly.
Malthus = population pressure.
What is natural selection?
Organisms with best traits survive + reproduce.
What evidence did Darwin get from fossils and biogeography?
Fossils showed change over time.
Biogeography = similar species in similar environments.
