Charles++Darwin+and+other+scientists

Evolution Home 1 Evolution Definitions 2 Evidence of Evolution 3 Charles Darwin 4 Theory of Evolution 5 Study Resources

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=Darwin= 15. Explain Darwin's theory of natural selection. Which individuals are the most "fit?" BE ABLE TO APPLY THIS THEORY TO VARIOUS EXAMPLES! Darwin's theory of natural selection is that only the individuals fittest to survive in a population will produce offspring and be around for future generation. The individuals most fit are the ones adapted to their environment and able to fight off predators and be agressive when it comes to food. An example is the finches in the Galapagos Islands. Only the birds that adapted their beaks to the food they were given were able to survive.

16. What was the name of the book Darwin published in 1859? The Origin of Species

17. What was the general idea behind Darwin's theory of descent with modification? What are all 5 parts? BE ABLE TO APPLY THIS!


 * Variation among offspring
 * Overpopulation - more organisms produce than can survive
 * Natural Selection and Survival of the Fittest
 * Survivors live to reproduce
 * Over hundreds of generations, descent with modification

=Other Scientists= 18. Explain Lamarck's theory of evolution. How does it differ from Darwin's theories? Lamarck believed in aquiring traits

It proposed that individual efforts during the lifetime of the organisms were the main mechanism driving species to adaptation, as they supposedly would acquire adaptative changes and pass them on to offspring. Lamarck Populations of organisms all the same (no variations). Changes occur in the enivrionment Organisms can change in response to environment All organisms survive

Darwin Population of organisms with individual differences (variations) Changes occur in the environment Environment "selects" for against certain variations Not all organisms survive

the difference between Lamarck's theory and Darwin's theory is that Lamarck believed that none of the animals died, just developed the traits needed to survive where as Darwin believed that only some animals develop the traits needed and the others die

19. Besides Lamark, what other scientists contributed to Darwin's theories? What were the contributions of each of these scientists? Wallace-came to the same conclusion as Darwin involving same basic mechanism for evolutionary change. Lyell-suggested physical changes to Earth result from geologic processes occurring over long periods of time. Malthus-said that populations grow much faster than the rate at which food and other resources can be produced. The production of more individuals than the environment can support leads to a struggle for existence.

20. What is the difference between a law, a theory, and a hypothesis? A law is a general statement about nature that is considered proven beyond doubt. A theory is a well-tested explanation that makes sense of a great cariety of scientific observations. A hypothesis is a suggested, testable answer to a well-defined scientific question.