Darwin's Finches: Unraveling the Mysteries of Evolution

The video explores Charles Darwin's observations of Galapagos finches, leading to his theory of evolution by natural selection. It explains the key ideas of heritability, competition, and variation, and illustrates these concepts with the case study of the peppered moth during the Industrial Revolution, showing how environmental changes can drive evolutionary adaptations.

What did Darwin initially not realize about the birds he collected from the Galapagos Islands?

• They were not birds.

• They were from the mainland of Ecuador.

• They were distinct species.

• They were all the same species.

Which of the following is NOT one of the key ideas of natural selection?

• All offspring are identical.

• Offspring vary in their heritable traits.

• More offspring are produced than can survive.

• Traits are often heritable.

How do advantageous traits become more common in a population over time?

• Through artificial selection.

• Through random chance.

• By being eliminated from the gene pool.

• By being passed down from generation to generation.

What environmental change during the Industrial Revolution affected the peppered moths?

• Dark smoke from coal burning.

• Introduction of new predators.

• Deforestation.

• Increased rainfall.

Why did dark-colored peppered moths have an advantage during the Industrial Revolution?

• They could blend in with the darkened environment.

• They had a better diet.

• They were more attractive to mates.

• They were faster flyers.

What was the primary reason for the increase in dark-colored peppered moths?

• They migrated from another region.

• They were better camouflaged from predators.

• They were selectively bred by humans.

• They had a genetic mutation.

How does Darwin's theory of natural selection help explain changes in living organisms?

• It shows that all changes are random.

• It suggests that all species remain unchanged.

• It explains how advantageous traits become more common over generations.

• It proves that evolution is not possible.