Darwin & Wallace, the making of a theory

Front

What is natural selection?

Back

Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Front

What are the conditions necessary for natural selection to occur?

Back

1. More offspring are born than can survive. 2. There is heritable variation among members of the population. 3. Fitness varies among individuals.

Front

What does 'fitness' mean in the context of evolution?

Back

Fitness refers to how well an organism survives and reproduces in its environment.

Front

What did Charles Darwin observe on the Galápagos Islands?

Back

Darwin observed species similar to mainland South American species, which led him to question how species adapted to different environments.

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What is the significance of heritable variation in natural selection?

Back

Heritable variation is crucial because it provides the genetic diversity necessary for natural selection to act upon.

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What is common descent?

Back

Common descent is the principle that all living organisms share a common ancestor.

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What are adaptations?

Back

Adaptations are traits that enhance an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

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Who was Alfred Russel Wallace?

Back

Alfred Russel Wallace was a naturalist who independently conceived the theory of evolution through natural selection, inspired by his observations in the Malay Archipelago.

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What is the role of competition in natural selection?

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Competition for limited resources leads to the survival of the fittest, where only those best adapted to their environment survive.

Front

What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

Back

Homologous structures are similar due to shared ancestry, while analogous structures are similar due to convergent evolution, not shared ancestry.