Biology 1001 Evolution Study Guide
iThis is a guide. You will find it very helpful, but it does not contain everything that has been covered and could be asked on the exam. I can and will pull questions out of the textbook, so make sure you’ve been reading. Go back through the homework assignments and feel free to use the practice tests on Mastering Biology as well.
Chapter 14 – Evolution of Evolutionary Thought
Definitions : uniformitarianism: Earth's present landscape was produced by past action of the same geological processes.
Questions:
• Be able to explain how the theory of evolution developed from the early 1700s. What key discoveries were made and who made them?
-Buffon:species created then evolve --> Lamarck: mechanism of species change -->Darwin/Wallace: evolution and natural selection. • What did Jean Baptiste Lamarck do? How did he contribute to the concept of evolution? What was he wrong about?
-Lamarck hypothesized that organisms evolved through inheritance of acquired characteristics, where the body is modified due to use or disuse or parts & that all organisms have innate drive for perfection. He was incorrect in that acquired characteristics are not inherited as Mendel and genetics had not been discovered yet. • What was so important about Charles Lyell’s discoveries?
-Lyell concluded that there was no need to invoke catastrophes to explain the findings of geology. Layers of rock are evidence of ordinary natural processes, and the idea of uniformitarianism. He concluded earth was extremely old and eternal showing there was enough time for evolution to occur. • What was Wallace/Darwin’s major contribution?
-Proposed that life's variety arose by descent with modification in which individuals in each generation differ slightly from the preceding generation. Based on their four postulates including variation, inheritance, differing reproductive success and natural selection. • What was a major problem with Darwin’s idea initially (hint:
Chapter 14 – Evolution of Evolutionary Thought
Definitions : uniformitarianism: Earth's present landscape was produced by past action of the same geological processes.
Questions:
• Be able to explain how the theory of evolution developed from the early 1700s. What key discoveries were made and who made them?
-Buffon:species created then evolve --> Lamarck: mechanism of species change -->Darwin/Wallace: evolution and natural selection. • What did Jean Baptiste Lamarck do? How did he contribute to the concept of evolution? What was he wrong about?
-Lamarck hypothesized that organisms evolved through inheritance of acquired characteristics, where the body is modified due to use or disuse or parts & that all organisms have innate drive for perfection. He was incorrect in that acquired characteristics are not inherited as Mendel and genetics had not been discovered yet. • What was so important about Charles Lyell’s discoveries?
-Lyell concluded that there was no need to invoke catastrophes to explain the findings of geology. Layers of rock are evidence of ordinary natural processes, and the idea of uniformitarianism. He concluded earth was extremely old and eternal showing there was enough time for evolution to occur. • What was Wallace/Darwin’s major contribution?
-Proposed that life's variety arose by descent with modification in which individuals in each generation differ slightly from the preceding generation. Based on their four postulates including variation, inheritance, differing reproductive success and natural selection. • What was a major problem with Darwin’s idea initially (hint: