Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Evolution
- Evolution is the theory that every
species has developed over billions
of years from single celled organisms
to far more complex beings
- This is referred to by Darwin as Natural Selection
- Individual organisms within a
particular species may show
a wide range of variation
because of differences in
their genes
- Individuals with
characteristics most suited
to the environment are more
likely to the environment are
more likely to survive to
breed successfully
- The genes that have enabled these
individuals to survive are then passed on to
the next generation
- Where new forms of a gene result
from mutation there may be rapid
change in a species if the
environment
- Darwin's "The Origin of Species"
- At the time of conception, the theory
was very controversial and caused
much scepticism because:
- Darwin's theory challenged the dominant
theory that God made all living things as
they are now
- There was insufficient evidence at the
time to convince the leading scientists
- The mechanism of
inheritance and variation was
not known until 50 years later
- Darwin's theory is generally preferred to Lamarck's
as it accounts for the continued presence of simple
organisms
- Lamarck's Theory
- Lamarck suggested that changes in an animal's life
are made to suit their habitat and that these changes
can be passed on to their offspring
- For example, a giraffe might need a
longer neck to reach higher branches and
will therefore grow its neck; a change that
is then passed onto their offspring
- This theory is now deemed
impossible in most cases as this type
of inheritance cannot occur
- Studying the similarities and differences between
organisms allows us to classify living organisms into
animals, plants and micro-organisms and helps us
to understand evolutionary and ecological
relationships
- Genes can be transferred to the cells of living
things at an early stage so that they develop with
desired characteristics
- New genes can be transferred to crop plants
- These are called genetically modified crops (GM crops)
- For example, crops have been developed
that resistant to insect attack or to herbicides
- Concerns about GM crops include the effect on populations
of wild flowers and insects as well as the uncertainty around
the health effects of eating GM crops