evolution

Question 1

what is the theory of evolution?

Answer 1

more than 3 billion years ago, life on earth began as simple organisms from which all the complex organisms evolved

Question 2

how does natural selection explain how evolution occurs?

Answer 2

1. CHARLES DARWIN came up with the idea of natural selection
2. individuals within a species have their differences, because of genes
3. individuals with characteristics that makes them better adapted to the environment have a better chance of survival(FOR THEIR ENVIRONMENT)and are more likely to breed successfully
4. so, the genes that are responsible for the useful characteristics, will be passed on to the next generation

Question 3

“evolution can occur due to mutations” what does this mean?

Answer 3

1. a mutation is a change in a organisms DNA
2. most mutations have no effect. But sometimes they can be beneficial by producing a useful characteristic. this characteristic may give the organism a better chance of survival or reproducing
3. the beneficial mutation is likely to be passed to the next generation by natural selection
4. overtime, these characteristics will accumulate into a population.

Question 4

why didn’t everyone agree/believe with DARWINS theory?

Answer 4

1. it went against common religious beliefs about how life on earth developed
2. darwin couldnt give a good explanation as to how these new, useful characteristics appeared or how a organism passed on these beneficial characteristics(no one knew about genes or mutations)
3. there wasn’t enough evidence to support his idea

Question 5

what was LAMARCKS theory of evolution?

Answer 5

1. if a characteristic was used a lot by a organism, then it would become more developed over its lifetime. e.g. if a rabbit used its legs a lot, then overtime its legs would get longer
2. lamarck believed that these acquired characteristics would be passed on to the next generation.