Download Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution

reproduction
Charles Darwin
The Theory of
Evolution
Charles Darwin was
a British scientist
that developed
his theory of
evolution by
natural selection
based on changes
he observed in
such creatures as
the peppered
moth.
Evolution is change over time. This theory can refer
to any type of change, but this theory of evolution
deals specifically with changes in living things.
Natural Selection the process whereby organisms
better adapted to their environment tend to
survive and produce more offspring.
The theory of biological evolution explains the changes
that have occurred in living things during the history
of life on Earth. It is a very important concept in
modern biology and is based on the idea that all
organisms are changed forms of living things that
came before.
We see the effects of evolution in the diversity
of plants and animals around us.
1859 Darwin published his
theory of evolution by
natural selection in a book
entitled
On the Origin of the Species.
In this book he noted that
organism with characteristics
that were favorable for
survival lived and passed
these traits on to their off
spring.
Those organisms that had traits
that were not beneficial to
survival often died prior to
reproducing.
Natural Selection
based upon
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Organisms tend to produce more offspring than will
survive.
Organisms must struggle to survive because
resources, like food and shelter, are limited.
Individuals of a population different from each
other. (much of this variation is inherited from
parents. Some is due to mutation)
Those individuals that are best adapted to their
environment will survive.
Those individuals that survive and reproduce best
will leave more offspring than other individuals.
Galapagos Islands
Darwin developed most of his ideas about natural selection while on
a five-year voyage along the South American coastline. He served as naturalist
on the ship called the Beagle.
While traveling, Darwin noted how different the South American
Plants and animals were from the European plants and animals. He also
noted the similarities between organisms. An especially interesting case was
found on the Galapagos Islands, 965 kilometers off the west coast of South
America. There, Darwin noticed that many species of birds from different
islands closely resembled birds on other islands. Yet the birds from each tiny
island also were distinctly different from the birds on the other islands. Each
of the bird species had a slightly different beak shape that allowed it to use a
different food source. It seemed as though each species was uniquely
adapted to its particular environment. Darwin was so fascinated by the beak
variations in finches that he began to study adaptations in many other
animals. His study of unity and diversity in the animal kingdom allowed him to
develop his theory of evolution by natural selection
Activity
Galapagos Finches:
Famous Beaks
http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/
sorting-finch-species
http://www.sciencechannel.com/gam
es-and-interactives/charles-darwingame/