Name _ _ Period _ Regents Biology Date _ REVIEW 6: EVOLUTION Define evolution: Modern Theory of Evolution: Charles Darwin: Was not the first to think of evolution, but he did figure out how it works (mostly). genes, so he know about mutations. However, Darwin didn’t know about couldn’t modern understanding of The modern theory (which combines Darwin’s ideas with our genetics and other new ideas) contains the following ideas: Earth is very old (4.55 billion years) and is constantly changing. Variation: No variation = no evolution or natural selection, as there is nothing to “select.” Species with no variation are usually the first to die when the environment changes Inheritance: Over-production: Competition for limited resources Adaptations: Survival & Reproduction of the Fittest: NOTE: Traits are inherited randomly. Individual offspring of “fit” parents can still to survive and inherit “unfit” traits (although that individual will be less likely reproduce). It is only by looking at the ENTIRE population that you will see the “fit” traits become more common in the group. All of these factors are summarized in the mechanism that causes species to change over time, which is called is not a conscious act no one is Note: This “natural selection” — “choosing” who survives and who to inherit the by the of the doesn’t. Individuals had “fit” traits “luck the conditions of the environment select who can compete draw”. And organism’s better. Modern species evolved from earlier, different species and Common Descent: share a common ancestor.
Name _ _ Period _ Regents Biology Date _ REVIEW 6: EVOLUTION Define evolution: Modern Theory of Evolution: Charles Darwin: Was not the first to think of evolution, but he did figure out how it works (mostly). However, Darwin didn’t know about genes, so he couldn’t know about mutations. The modern theory (which combines Darwin’s ideas with our modern understanding of genetics and other new ideas) contains the following ideas: Earth is very old (4.55 billion years) and is constantly changing. Variation: No variation = no evolution or natural selection, as there is nothing to “select.” Species with no variation are usually the first to die when the environment changes Inheritance: Over-production: Competition for limited resources Adaptations: Survival & Reproduction of the Fittest: NOTE: Traits are inherited randomly. Individual offspring of “fit” parents can still inherit “unfit” traits (although that individual will be less likely to survive and reproduce). It is only by looking at the ENTIRE population that you will see the “fit” traits become more common in the group. All of these factors are summarized in the mechanism that causes species to change over time, which is called Note: This “natural selection” is not a conscious act — no one is “choosing” who survives and who doesn’t. Individuals had to inherit the “fit” traits by the “luck of the draw”. And the conditions of the organism’s environment select who can compete better. Common Descent: Modern species evolved from earlier, different species and share a common ancestor.