Download Evolution Unit Study Guide

Evolution Unit Study Guide
1. Who was Charles Darwin? How did each of the following influence Charles Darwin as he
developed his theory of natural selection? (Thomas Malthus, Charles Lyell, Alfred Wallace,
Selective Breeding)
2. How does the theory of natural selection explain how life is able to change over time (evolve)?
How does the peppered moth demonstrate natural selection?
3. How does speciation occur? How is speciation different from natural selection?
4. How are homologous and vestigial structures different? How does each type of structure provide
evidence of evolution? Provide an example of each.
5. How are embryology and genetics used as evidence of evolution?
6. What is the difference between the relative age and absolute age of fossils? Explain how
radioactive dating is used to determine the age of a rock or fossil.
7. Define the term era. What were the 4 eras of Earth’s history? Describe what forms of life
dominated the fossil record of each era.
8. Describe the differences between the primitive and modern atmosphere of the Earth. What
organism caused the primitive atmosphere to change and why?
9. What was the purpose of the Miller-Urey experiment? Explain how the experiment was a
“success”?
10. Describe the Cambrian Explosion. Why is it considered important in the evolution of life?
11. How did the ozone layer form? Explain how the ozone layer affected life evolving onto land.
12. List the order (oldest to most recent) that the different groups of vertebrates evolved during
Earth’s history.
13. What is a mass extinction? How many mass extinctions have there been through Earth’s
history? What could cause a mass extinction?