Exam 3: The Development of Evolutionary Theory

_________ was an 18th century thinker who believed that living forms changed in response to the environment yet still rejected the idea that one species could give rise to another.

Which of the following concepts did NOT influence Darwin in developing his theory of evolution?

How is natural selection related to environmental factors? How can selective pressures change? Give an example.

Thomas Malthus did not

Many people in the United States believe in the biblical creation. What factors may account for the fact that many people do not accept evolution as an explanation for the origins and diversity of life?

Evolution is a theory that has considerable support from genetic evidence.

Explain what is meant by differential net reproductive success. Give an example of how this mechanism works.

Who was the first to actually attempt to explain the mechanism by which species change?

The concept of evolution is unique to Western science.

Growing attacks on traditional beliefs resulted with growing awareness of biological diversity. _________challenged a notion proposed by Aristotle to account for the movement of the sun and planets.

The fact that individuals who possess favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than those who possess less favorable traits is the basis for which theory?

_____________________refined the existing system of classifying biological organisms into a binomial system.

__________________first recognized that species were groups of organisms that were distinguished from other such groups by their ability to mate with one another and produce fertile offspring.

In formulating his theory of natural selection, Darwin did not