Download ANSWER KEY Learning Guide 16.1-16.2 Define evolution (450

ANSWER KEY
Learning Guide 16.1-16.2
Define evolution (450):
The process of change over time
What was Darwin’s contribution to science? (450)
Darwin developed a scientific theory of biological evolution that explains how modern organisms
evolved over long periods of time through descent from common ancestors.
Name some modern phenomena that can be explained in terms of evolution (450):
Drug-resistant bacteria and newly emerging diseases like avian flu
What did Darwin notice as it relates to rheas, ostriches, and emus around the globe? (451)
Darwin noticed that different, yet ecologically similar, habitats around the globe.
What did Darwin notice as it relates to different rheas living in South America? (452)
Darwin noticed that different, yet related, animal species often occupied different habitats within a
local area.
Why could local individuals tell which island tortoises came from just by looking at their shell?
(452)
The tortoise shells varied in predictable ways from one island to another, so that anyone who knew
the animals well could identify which island an individual tortoise came from just by looking at its
shell.
Define fossils. What did Darwin notice about them? Give an example (452)
The preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms. Darwin noticed that some fossils of extinct
animals were similar to living species. Darwin unearthed the fossils of the long-extinct glyptodont, a
giant armored animal that resembled a similar animal, the armadillo- a much smaller version of the
glyptodont.
What did Hutton and Lyell conclude about Earth’s history? (454)
Hutton and Lyell concluded that Earth is extremely old and that the processes that changed Earth in
the past are the same processes that operate in the present.
How do mountains form? (455)
Forces beneath the earth’s surface can push rock layers upward, tilting or twisting them in the
process, Over long periods, these forces build mountains.
How did Lamarck propose that species evolve? (2 sentences) (456)
Lamarck suggested that organisms could change during their lifetimes by selectively using or not
using various parts of their bodies. He also suggested that individuals could pass these acquired
traits on to their offspring, enabling species to change over time.
What was one contribution that Lamarck made? (456)
Lamarck was one of the first naturalists to suggest that species are not fixed. He was among the first
to try to explain evolution scientifically using natural processes. He paved the way for later
biologists.
What was Malthus’s view of population growth? (457)
Malthus reasoned that if the human population grew unchecked, there wouldn’t be enough living
space and food for everyone.
Define artificial selection. What field of work is this used most prevalently? (458)
Selective breeding of plants and animals to promote the occurrence of desirable traits in offspring
What was Darwin’s breakthrough? (458)
Darwin’s breakthrough was in recognizing that natural variation was very important because it
provided the raw material for evolution.