Evolution

What is the definition of evolution?

Evolution is the change over time, the process of how present-day organisms have descended from ancient ones.

What did Alexander Ivanovich Oparin propose in the 1920s regarding the origin of life?

Oparin proposed that the early Earth's atmosphere was very reactive, leading to the formation of a 'primordial soup' from which life arose.

What are proteinoid microspheres?

Proteinoid microspheres are large organic molecules that are similar to modern bacteria and are considered to be early cell-like structures.

Which experiment did Stanley Miller and Harold Urey conduct to test the origin of organic molecules?

They simulated early Earth conditions in a laboratory, using hydrogen, methane, ammonia, and water, and observed the formation of amino acids.

What key concept is associated with the theory of panspermia?

The theory of panspermia suggests that life on Earth may have originated from biological particles or organic compounds from outer space.

What conditions are believed to affect the stability of RNA bases in the ocean?

RNA bases become increasingly unstable as temperatures rise above 0°C, impacting potential origins of life in seawater.

What is endosymbiosis?

Endosymbiosis is a relationship in which one organism lives inside another, crucial for the origin of eukaryotic cells.

What did Charles Darwin observe in the Galapagos Islands?

Darwin noted that animals' characteristics varied from island to island, such as tortoise shell shapes and bird beak sizes.

What is the survival of the fittest?

The concept that within the struggle for existence, individuals that are stronger or faster are more likely to survive and reproduce.

What is the difference between artificial selection and natural selection?

Artificial selection is the process by which humans select traits in organisms, while natural selection occurs based on environmental pressures.

What is genetic drift?

Genetic drift refers to changes in allele frequencies in a population due to random sampling effects, especially in small populations.

What is the mechanism of natural selection?

Natural selection is a mechanism of evolutionary change based on environmental pressures determining which traits are advantageous for survival.

What evidence supports the theory of evolution?

Evidence supporting evolution includes fossil records, anatomical similarities, biogeographical distribution, embryonic development, and molecular evidence.

What is the theory of use and disuse proposed by Lamarck?

The theory suggests that organisms can alter their traits by using or not using certain organs, and those changes can be inherited by the next generation.

What did Darwin's book 'On the Origin of Species' propose?

Darwin's book proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection, detailing the evidence for how species change over time.

What key elements are considered when formulating the geologic time scale?

The geologic time scale is based on Earth's history, fossil record transitions, and geological and climatic changes.

What is the significance of the Precambrian era?

The Precambrian era represents the first and largest division of geological time, encompassing the formation of Earth and the earliest life forms.

What is mutation in the context of evolution?

Mutation is a change in the structure of a gene caused by alterations in the DNA sequence, contributing to genetic diversity.