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Natural Selection and Genetic Modification

Darwin, Wallace and the theory of evolution

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

Darwin's Beagle observations and On the Origin of Species, Wallace's independent work and warning colouration, why scientists were slow to accept the theory, and why it matters today.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Which two naturalists independently arrived at the idea that species change over time through natural selection?

Key term

Wallace also studied warning colouration. Explain how bright warning colours in a poisonous insect can be favoured by natural selection.

Key term

Give one reason why other scientists were slow to accept Darwin's explanation when it was first published.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Which two naturalists independently arrived at the idea that species change over time through natural selection?

    Model answer

    Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

  2. 2

    What did Darwin observe on his voyage aboard HMS Beagle that helped him develop his theory?

    Model answer

    He found closely related species, such as the finches on different Galapagos islands, whose features suited the particular food and conditions where they lived.

  3. 3

    Name the book, published in 1859, in which Darwin set out the theory of evolution by natural selection.

    Model answer

    On the Origin of Species.

  4. 4

    Describe the contribution Alfred Russel Wallace made to the theory of evolution by natural selection.

    Model answer

    While studying species in the Malay Archipelago he reached the same explanation independently and sent his essay to Darwin, and their work was presented jointly in 1858.

  5. 5

    Wallace also studied warning colouration. Explain how bright warning colours in a poisonous insect can be favoured by natural selection.

    Model answer

    Predators learn to avoid the brightest individuals, so those insects are least likely to be eaten and pass their alleles to more offspring.

  6. 6

    Give one reason why other scientists were slow to accept Darwin's explanation when it was first published.

    Model answer

    Genes and mutations were not yet known, so Darwin could not say how the useful variations arose or how they were passed on.

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Cells and Control
Genetics
Natural Selection and Genetic Modification

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