Flashcards on Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection
Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection: Student Guide
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Theory of evolution (Darwin)
17 cards
Card 1
Question: What belief predominated among Western scientists until the mid-19th century regarding the origin of living beings?
Answer: That a supreme being had created humans and all creatures in its own image.
Card 2
Question: What role did Charles Darwin play in changing that belief?
Answer: He provided the first evidence explaining the operation of natural selection, offering another way to understand human origins and biological diversit
Card 3
Question: At what age and in what year did Darwin embark on the voyage of the HMS Beagle?
Answer: He was 22 years old in 1831 when he was appointed as a naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle.
Card 4
Question: How long did the Beagle's voyage last, and what types of materials did Darwin return with?
Answer: It lasted about 5 years; Darwin returned with numerous live specimens, illustrations, and fossils.
Card 5
Question: What observation about fossils contributed to the idea of evolution?
Answer: Upon finding remains like those of the mylodon (a large sloth-like animal), Darwin saw similarities with current species that suggested kinship and ch
Card 6
Question: What differences did Darwin observe in the tortoises of the Galápagos Islands?
Answer: On humid islands, tortoises had short necks and domed shells; on arid islands, they had flat shells and longer necks.
Card 7
Question: What idea from breeders and gardeners helped Darwin understand natural selection?
Answer: Artificial selection: by breeding specimens, humans can create new varieties, demonstrating that selection can produce heritable changes.
Card 8
Question: What concept by Thomas Malthus influenced Darwin, and how did he apply it?
Answer: Malthus wrote that population grows faster than food supply, leading to a struggle for survival; Darwin applied this to explain that competition exist
Card 9
Question: According to Darwin, who has the highest probability of surviving and reproducing in the struggle for existence?
Answer: Not necessarily the strongest, but the one best adapted to environmental conditions; these traits increase their reproductive success and are passed o
Card 10
Question: How do Darwin and his theory explain the variations that lead to new species?
Answer: Favorable variations increase the probability of survival and reproduction; over time, these variations accumulate and can give rise to new species de