Evolution and Inheritance

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

Any change in the characteristics of species over several generation

Question 2

Who developed the theory of evolution ?

Answer 2

Charles Darwin

Question 3

What are the common ideas/ misconceptions children have about evolution?

Answer 3

• The belief that all animal species are intrinsically unique, which does not allow for an ancestral relationship between humans and apes
• All processes are purposefully caused by a human-liked agent, opposes the idea that humans evolved as a result of random genetic mutations
• Everything happens for a reason or to fulfil a function - contradicts the notion that evolution is spontaneous
• Evolutionary ideas are counterintuitive to children. Creationism is more intuitive

Question 4

What is a characteristic ?

Answer 4

A feature of an organism. It can be something we see (like hair or eye colour), or something we can’t see (blood group

Question 5

What is a variation?

Answer 5

Difference in characteristics

Question 6

Why do plants and animals adapt?

Answer 6

In order to survive and reproduce