Chapter 15 Evolution

Based on the adaptations Charles Darwin observed in finches and tortoises in the Galápagos, he wondered

Based on the adaptations Charles Darwin observed in finches and tortoises in the Galápagos, he wondered

Which is a major concept included in Lamarck's theory of evolution?

Body structure can change according to the actions of the organism.

The hypothesis that species change over time by natural selection was proposed by

Charles Darwin.

James Hutton's and Charles Lyell's work suggests that

Earth is many millions of years old.

Why might Darwin have hesitated to publish his concept of evolution by natural selection?

He was disturbed by his findings, which challenged fundamental scientific beliefs.

One scientist who attempted to explain how rock layers form and change over time was

James Hutton.

Which statement is in agreement with Darwin's theory of evolution?

More offspring are produced than can possibly survive.

In 1859, Charles Darwin published his revolutionary scientific ideas in a work titled

On the Origin of Species.

The species of finches that Charles Darwin found on the Galápagos Islands displayed different structural adaptations. One of the adaptations that Darwin noted was the

The species of finches that Charles Darwin found on the Galápagos Islands displayed different structural adaptations. One of the adaptations that Darwin noted was the

The idea that only famine, disease, and war could prevent the endless growth of human populations was presented by

Thomas Malthus.

The number and location of bones of many fossil vertebrates are similar to those in living vertebrates. Most biologists would probably explain this fact on the basis of

a common ancestor.

Darwin was prompted to publish his theory of evolution by

an essay by Wallace on evolution.

When a farmer breeds only his or her best livestock, the process involved is

artificial selection.

Which of the following phrases best describes the results of natural selection?

changes in the inherited characteristics of a population

Darwin realized that the economist Malthus's theory of population control

could be generalized to any population of organisms.

Charles Darwin's observation that finches of different species on the Galápagos Islands have many similar physical characteristics supports the hypothesis that these finches

descended from a common ancestor.

According to Charles Darwin, members of a species must share limited resources. _________________________

false

According to Darwin, the word selection would be applied to organisms adapted to survive and reproduce in their particular environments. _________________________

false

When farmers select animals or plants to use for breeding, they look for

natural variations that are present in a species

Darwin began to formulate his concept of evolution by natural selection after

observations of many species and their geographical location.

During his voyage on the Beagle, Charles Darwin made many observations

on the Galápagos Islands.

In the 1800s, Charles Lyell emphasized that

past geological events must be explained in terms of processes observable today.

An adaptation is an inherited characteristic that can be

physical or behavioral.

Darwin's theory of evolution suggests that

species change over time.

The economist Thomas Malthus suggested that

there would soon be insufficient food for the growing human population

Which concept is NOT included in the modern theory of evolution?

transmission of acquired characteristics

In humans, the pelvis and femur, or thigh bone, are involved in walking. In whales, the pelvis and femur shown in Figure 15-1 are

vestigial structures.

People of Charles Darwin's time understood that fossils

were preserved remains of ancient organisms.

When Charles Darwin returned from the voyage of the Beagle, he

wrote about his ideas but waited many years to publish them

What did Charles Darwin learn from reading the work of James Hutton and Charles Lyell?

Earth is very old.

Which statement about the members of a population that live long enough to reproduce is consistent with the theory of natural selection?

They are the ones that are best adapted to survive in their environment.

Charles Darwin came to realize that organisms of the same species are identical. _________________________

false

Charles Darwin viewed the fossil record as

a detailed record of evolution.

Which phrase best defines evolution by natural selection?

a process of change in species over time

In natural selection, human breeders, rather than the environment, select the variations of traits to be passed to offspring. ______________________________

false

Lyell hypothesized that human populations are kept in check by war, disease, and famine. _________________________

false

Charles Darwin called the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its specific environment

fitness.

According to Lamarck, the sea floor can be pushed up to form mountains by forces within Earth. _________________________

false

According to the concept of natural variation, living and extinct species evolved from the same ancestors. ______________________________

false

Artificial selection as practiced by farmers is also called natural selection. _________________________

false

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck proposed that organisms

have an innate tendency toward complexity and perfection.

Darwin's theory of evolution is based on the idea(s) of

heritable variation and natural selection.

The same kinds of cells that grow in similar patterns in different but related organisms produce

homologous structures such as wings and arms.

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution explains all of the following EXCEPT

how inherited traits are passed from parent to offspring.

In each generation, the wings of experimental fruit flies were clipped short for fifty generations. The fifty-first generation emerged with normal-length wings. This observation would tend to disprove the idea that evolution is based on

inheritance of acquired

Darwin's concept of evolution was NOT influenced by

knowledge about the structure of DNA.

According to Darwin's theory of natural selection, individuals who survive are the ones best adapted for their environment. Their survival is due to the

possession of inherited adaptations that maximize fitness.

Modern sea star larvae resemble some primitive vertebrate larvae. This similarity may suggest that primitive vertebrates

share a common

On the Galápagos Islands, Charles Darwin observed

somewhat similar species, with traits that suited their particular environments

James Hutton's and Charles Lyell's work was important to Darwin because these scientists

suggested that Earth was old enough for evolution to have occurred.

When lions prey on a herd of antelopes, some antelopes are killed and some escape. Which part of Darwin's concept of natural selection might be used to describe this situation?

survival of the fittest

Lamarck's theory of evolution includes the concept that new organs in a species appear as a result of

the actions of organisms as they use or fail to use body structures.

According to Charles Darwin, individuals best suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully. _________________________

true

After his voyage on the Beagle,Charles Darwin wondered whether similar species from the Galápagos Islands could once have been members of the same species. _________________________

true

Evidence that the surface of a mountain was once under the sea includes the presence of marine fossils on the mountain. _________________________

true

In 1858, Alfred Russel Wallace sent Charles Darwin an essay proposing an explanation for evolution that was very similar to Darwin's. _________________________

true

In Charles Darwin's time, many people thought that Earth and its living things were formed about a few thousand years ago. _________________________

true

The fact that species today look different from their ancestors can be described as descent with modification. _________________________

true

The term fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment. _________________________

true

According to Darwin's theory of natural selection, the individuals that tend to survive are those that have

variations best suited to the environment.