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Flashcards · Biology · Evolution and Natural Selection

Darwin and Wallace

16 cards

  1. Who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

    Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

  2. What was the name of Darwin's ship?

    HMS Beagle.

  3. Which islands did Darwin study the finches on?

    The Galápagos Islands.

  4. When was On the Origin of Species published?

    1859.

  5. What happened in 1858?

    Wallace sent his paper to Darwin, and both were presented at the Linnean Society.

  6. Where did Wallace collect specimens?

    In the Amazon and South-East Asia.

  7. Why did Darwin delay publishing his theory?

    He wanted more evidence, and he knew the idea would upset many people.

  8. Give one reason why the theory was controversial.

    It conflicted with religious beliefs, or suggested a link between humans and apes.

  9. Why was it hard to accept the theory at first?

    There was no known mechanism for inheritance, and evolution is too slow to observe.

  10. What provided the mechanism Darwin lacked?

    Genetics, with the work of Mendel, and later DNA.

  11. What did Darwin learn from pigeon breeders?

    That choosing parents can produce new varieties, and nature could act in the same way.

  12. Why are the finches important?

    They showed how a single ancestor could give rise to species with different beaks.

  13. Which scientist had the idea independently of Darwin?

    Wallace.

  14. What is the common ancestor idea?

    All living things are descended from shared ancestors, and so are related.

  15. What phrase did Darwin use for the process?

    Natural selection.

  16. Common mistake about Darwin?

    Saying he invented the idea of evolution alone. Wallace had the same idea, and others before had suggested that species change.