Chapter 22 Guiding Questions
The Historical Context for Evolutionary Theory
- Explain the mechanism for evolutionary change proposed by Charles Darwin in On the Origin of Species.
- Define evolution and adaptation.
- Compare and contrast Aristotle’s scala naturae to Carolus Linnaeus’ classification scheme.
- Describe the theories of catastrophism, gradualism, and uniformitarianism.
- Explain the mechanism for evolutionary change proposed by Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck. Explain why modern biology has rejected Lamarck’s theories.
The Darwinian Revolution
- Describe how Darwin’s observations on the voyage of the HMS Beagle led him to formulate and support his theory of evolution.
- Explain how the principle of gradualism and Charles Lyell’s theory of uniformitarianism influenced Darwin’s ideas about evolution.
- Explain what Darwin meant by “descent with modification.”
- Explain what evidence convinced Darwin that species change over time.
- Explain how Linnaeus’ classification scheme fit Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.
- Describe the three inferences Darwin made from his observations that led him to propose natural selection as a mechanism for evolutionary change.
- Explain how an essay by the Rev. Thomas Malthus influenced Charles Darwin.
- Distinguish between artificial selection and natural selection.
- Explain why an individual organism cannot evolve.
- Describe the experiments that supported Reznick and Endler’s hypothesis that differences in life-history traits between guppy populations are due to selective pressure based on predation.
- Explain how the existence of homologous and vestigial structures can be explained by Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
- Explain how evidence from biogeography supports the theory of evolution by natural selection.
- Explain the problem with the statement that Darwinism is “just a theory.” Distinguish between the scientific and colloquial use of the word theory.
