The origin of Species: The making of a theory

Which observation led Wallace to conclude that all species are connected in a tree of life?

Around the globe, the more similar two species are, the closer to each other they tend to live.

Which pair of characteristics (similarity and difference) are both correct comparisons of Darwin and Wallace?

Both Darwin's and Wallace's ideas about natural selection were revealed to the scientific community at the same time. Darwin's ideas about natural selection were inspired by what he observed on the Galápagos Islands, while Wallace's ideas about natural selection were inspired by what he observed on the Malay Archipelago.

Which observations led Wallace to understand how species change over time? List all the statements that apply

The traits in a population vary from one individual to the next. Populations tend to produce more offspring in each generation than will survive. Individuals with traits that give them a slight advantage over other individuals in a population will survive and over time individuals with those traits will outnumber other individuals.

The diagrams to the right illustrate the bones in the forelimbs of four different organisms. Although these limbs all look different, they share some common patterns. These common patterns suggest that

These organisms share a common ancestor

One of Alfred Russel Wallace's motivations to travel to South America and the Malay Archipelago collecting plants and animals was to sell his specimens to museums and collectors. What was Wallace's other major motivation?

To understand the origin of species.

Which observations from the list below support the ideas presented in Darwin's sketch? List all the statements that apply

Tortoises from different islands of the Galápagos have different shells. Fossils of extinct animals resemble animals living today. Mockingbirds on different islands of the Galápagos have different markings.

When Charles Darwin set sail on his five-year journey on the HMS Beagle, both he and most of his contemporary scientists thought that

each species was specially created by God in its present form and did not change over time.

Darwin and Wallace both gathered a large number of observations and facts on which they based their theories. Which of the following types of evidence was NOT part of the evidence they gathered?

genetic evidence