Question

Darwin’s mechanism of evolution was heavily influenced by which concept from geology?

Catastrophism

Uniformitarianism

Fossilization

Sedimentation

Answer 1

Uniformitarianism

Explanation:

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was influenced by the work of Charles Lyell. Lyell’s work on Principles of Geology convinced Darwin that geological change gradually took place over the span of millions of years. These principles of gradual and slow changes are known as uniformitarianism. It refuted the idea that the geological structures are the outcomes of catastrophic events that took place suddenly.

Thus, Darwin’s mechanism of evolution states that evolution occurs through natural selection via gradual changes in the environment.

Catastrophism is the theory which states that the changes on earth are the result of unusual and violent events.

Fossilization is the process by which animals and plants become fossils. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past.

Sedimentation refers to the tendency of particles in the suspension to settle down in the fluid in which they are kept