Evolution
Define evolution.
Evolution is the process of biological chnage by which descendants come to differ from their ancesters.
What is a species?
a group of organsisms physically similar enough to reproduce and have fertile offspring.
What was Linnaeus' contribution to evolutionary theory?
He developed a classiffication sytem that groups organisms by their similarities. That sytem reflects evolutionary similarities. He also proposed that organisms might have arisen through hybridization.
What was Buffons contribution to evolutionary theory?
Proposed that all species share ancestors instead of arising separately. He also suggested the earth was older than 6000 years.
What was Erasmus Darwins contribution to evolutionary theory?
He propsed that all organisms were descended from a common ancestor and that more complex life forms arose from less comples forms.
What was Lamarcks contribution to evolutionary theory?
He propsed that all organisms evolved towards perfection and complexity He reasoned that species dont become extinct but rather evolve into deifferent forms. He came up with the idea of inheritance of aqcuired charecteristics: changes in an organisms environment lead to an organisms greater use or disuse of a structure, causing the struture to become larger or smaller as a result. The organism would pass these change son to its offspring. This is incorrect because the disuses or use of a structure resulting in a larger or smaller structure will not be passed on to offspring.