Question

Based on the documentary " evolution What darwin never knew" answer the following questions in at least 3 sentences each.

1. Why were the Galapago islands so important in darwin's discoveries?

2. Summarize Darwin's discoveries in relation to the behavior and physical characteristics of animals in the Galapagos. Provide at least 2 examples.

3. What was the importance of embryos in the studies of the evolution of species?

4. Explain the concept of natural selection using terms like adaptation and mutation. Provide at least two examples.

5. In what way do mutations in the DNA help explain the variation of the species. Provide at least two examples.

6. What is the importance of genes in the evolution of species?

Answer 1

1. The Galapagos island is located away from the mainland and is isolated.These are a group of islands with different environmental conditions. The species in their underwent changes faster to survive giving rise to variations and adaptation. Darwin observed these things and arrived at his theory.

2. Species undergo the process of natural selection. According to theory of natural selection , the species with better adaptation is selected for mating and their children are born. Adaptation is the changes a species acquire in their lifetime. The species which is better adapted to survive and compete in their environment gets naturally selected.

Examples are Marine Iguana and Finch.

3. Studying embryos tell us a lot about evolution. The growth in embryo involves the shedding of unwanted body parts such as vestigial organs. Human embryo had tail and when it grew, it eventually disappeared. This tells us the relationship we have with apes who have tail.

4. Natural selection is the process by which an organism is better adapted to the environment and are able to survive and produce more babies. Adaptation is the changes in behavior or physical an organism undergoes to better cope with the environment. Mutation is a change in gene that causes physical or behavioral changes. Due to these changes , a species having better advantages over other species is being selected naturally. Examples are Marine iguanas which adapted to the marine food habitat conditions and learned to swim. And finches with better adapted beak to scaveng prey from hard wood.

5. Mutation in DNA can cause very different behavior changes or physical changes. This can have tremendous impact on the survival of that species. For example in humans , a mutation causes HIV resistance. So, this human can survive better than the other humans without this mutation in a condition where everyone is infected by HIV. Also another example is a mutation which causes sickle cell anaemia in humans. This is a disease and the ones with this mutation has less chance than humans without it to survive.

6. Genes are very important in the evolutionary process. All the characteristics and adaptation are transferred to the next generation of offspring in this single tiny thing called gene. So, its pretty much very important.