Bio - Handout 19: Introduction to Evolution

Evolution

The change in the heritable characteristics of a population over time; the diversity of life.

Charles Darwin

An English naturalist who is best known for his theory of evolution by natural selection; the Father of evolution; along with Alfred Wallace, thought species could change and proposed the mechanism of natural selection driving evolution.

The Origin of Species

A book written by Charles Darwin in 1859 that presents his theory of evolution by natural selection, which explains how species change over time to adapt to their environment; considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology.

HMS Beagle

A survey ship that sailed around the world from 1831 to 1836. On this voyage, Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution by natural selection by visiting the Galapagos Islands and observing its unique species.

Alfred Wallace

Along with Charles Darwin, thought species could change; he proposed the mechanism of natural selection driving evolution.

Aristotle

Viewed species as fixed and arranged them on a scala naturae (ladder).

Scala naturae

The "scale of nature" that was a concept developed by Aristotle that viewed species as fixed and unchanged on a ladder of complexity.

Carolus Linnaeus

Viewed species as fixed and classified organisms (taxonomy) by phenotypic similarities (physical characteristics).

Taxonomy

The classification of organisms.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

Hypothesized that species could change/evolve; proposed the mechanism of 'use and disuse' of body parts.

Use and disuse

A principle created by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck stating that characteristics of an organism can change over time based on how much they use or don't use a certain body part.

Geology

The study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change.

James Hutton

Established gradualism.

Gradualism

Natural processes change the earth over longer periods of time, established by James Hutton.

Charles Lyell

Established uniformitarianism.

Uniformitarianism

The natural processes of gradualism have been constant and working long before humans existed, established by Charles Lyell.

Paleontology

The study of fossils.

Georges Cuvier

Founded paleontology in 1812.

Economics

A social science that studies the processes that govern the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services in an economy.

Thomas Malthus

Involved in economics and established 'simple exponential growth' (1798).

Simple Exponential Growth

A model created by Thomas Malthus showing that the population grows faster than the resources the population needs.

Malthusian catastrophe

The spot on Thomas Malthus' simple exponential growth model where the population and the production of food are at equilibrium.

T.H. Huxley

"Darwin's Bulldog" who was involved in the Wilberforce Debate; defended Darwin's ideas on evolution as well as an advocate of the scientific method.

Wilberforce Debate

The debate on whether evolution occurs.

Galapagos Islands

A group of volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean that are known for their unique wildlife, which inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection.

Darwin's Finches

Known for their beak variations, which are adapted to the specific foods available on their home islands.

Artificial Selection

A process in which individuals with favorable inherited traits are selectively chosen to breed by humans.

Adaptation

A change by which a group of organisms becomes better suited towards its environment over time.

Speciation

The formation of new species.

Natural Selection

A process in which individuals with certain heritable traits survive and reproduce at a higher rate than others because of those traits.