Year 10 - Science
Darwin, Wallace and the theory of evolution by natural selection
Fossil evidence, selective breeding and explaining evolution
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores evidence for evolution, including fossils and antibiotic resistance. It covers selective breeding, Darwin and Wallace's contributions to natural selection, and evolution as changes in inherited traits over time. It also examines how scientific theories evolve over time.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the evidence and scientific discoveries that led to the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Key Notes
- Scientists develop theories to explain how the natural world works
- Darwin and Wallace collected evidence that helped them to develop the theory of evolution by natural selection
- The theory was not widely accepted at first, in part because it did not explain how heritable traits were passed on
- Many scientists contributed to wider acceptance of the theory of evolution by natural selection by investigating DNA
- These scientists discovered DNA and demonstrated its significance as the mechanism for inheritance of traits
Vocabulary To Learn
- theory: A general explanation that applies to many situations.
- evolution: The process in which the characteristics of species change over many generations, sometimes becoming new species.
- natural selection: Organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on their genes to their offspring.
- artificial selection: The process in which humans choose organisms with desirable traits and breed them in order to make offspring with these desirable traits. Also known as selective breeding.
- DNA: The chemical molecule made of nucleotides, which contains the genetic code for making proteins in all living organisms.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Many students believe that Darwin was the only scientist involved in the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Scientists develop theories to explain how the natural world works. Darwin and Wallace collected evidence that helped them to develop the theory of evolution by natural selection.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'theory'
A general explanation that applies to many situations. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Many students believe that Darwin was the only scientist involved in the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection. Correction: This lesson directly addresses this misconception and includes examples of other scientists who were involved in the original and later development of the theory.
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