Darwin

What led to his discovery?

Went in the voyage of Beagle for 5 years

Studied species in Galapagos islands

No humans lived there so animals were not afraid-->close observations

Studied finches and realized that they were similar to species 400 miles away

Each islands finches were different--> "survival of the fittest"

Forced to spread his ideas before Wallace takes credit

Misconceptions

Oraganisms are getting better for their enviornment

Evolutionary theory is how life changes after its orgin

Just because not a lot of fossils are not found, doesnt mean there is no evolution.

Evolution is observable and testable therefore it is science.

Religion and science explain completely different things

Key Terms

Evolution

Change in the hereditary characteristics of groups of organisms over the course of generations.

Species

In general, a group of organisms which can potentially breed with each other to produce fertile offspring and cannot breed into members of other groups.

Mutation

A permanent change in the genetic material, usually in a single gene.

Fossils

Any evidence of ancient life.

Variation

Genetically determined differences in the of characteristics of members of the same species.

Natural Selection

Greater reproductive success among particular members of a species arising from genetically determined characteristics that confer an advantage in a particular envirnment.

"Ladder of evolution"

The fact that organisms are always getting better and being more fit for their type of envirnment

Divergence

The splitting of one species into two or more species.

Speciation

Evolutionary process by which new biological species arise.