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Year 10
Edexcel
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Darwin, Wallace and the theory of evolution by natural selection

I can describe the evidence and scientific discoveries that led to the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection

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New
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Year 10
Edexcel
Higher

Darwin, Wallace and the theory of evolution by natural selection

I can describe the evidence and scientific discoveries that led to the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Scientists develop theories to explain how the natural world works
  2. Darwin and Wallace collected evidence that helped them to develop the theory of evolution by natural selection
  3. The theory was not widely accepted at first, in part because it did not explain how heritable traits were passed on
  4. Many scientists contributed to wider acceptance of the theory of evolution by natural selection by investigating DNA
  5. These scientists discovered DNA and demonstrated its significance as the mechanism for inheritance of traits

Common misconception

Many students believe that Darwin was the only scientist involved in the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection.

This lesson directly addresses this misconception and includes examples of other scientists who were involved in the original and later development of the theory.

Keywords

  • 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.

This lesson is a great opportunity to discuss the importance of Rosalind Franklin's work in discovering the structure of DNA as she is one of the most well known female scientists of the 20th Century.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who gives the best description of DNA?
Andeep: "A molecule made from three strands that are stored in the nucleus."
Correct answer: Sam: "A molecule that is made of repeating units that carries the genetic code."
Sofia: "A long molecule that is made of sugars that carries genes."
Izzy: "A big molecule made of sugars and protein that carries genes."
Q2.
Where is DNA found in plant, animal and fungi cells and how is it stored?
An image in a quiz
It is found in the cytoplasm and stored as proteins.
It is found in the nucleus and stored as proteins.
Correct answer: It is found in the nucleus and stored as chromosomes.
It is found in the cytoplasm and stored as chromosomes.
Q3.
is the process in which the characteristics of species change over many generations, sometimes becoming new species.
Correct Answer: Evolution, evolving
Q4.
What provides evidence for evolution?
Correct Answer: fossils, fossil, fossil record
Q5.
True or false? Only animals can produce fossils.
true
Correct answer: false
Q6.
Which features might a plant living on a rainforest floor have?
Spines instead of leaves to reduce water loss.
Correct answer: Broad leaves to maximise sunlight absorption for photosynthesis.
Long roots help to get water deep from underground.
A thick green stem for photosynthesis to take place instead of in the leaves.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following statements are true about theories?
Correct answer: Theories have a lot of supporting evidence.
Theories are just ideas so they are not widely accepted.
Theories don't apply to many situations.
An example of a theory is evolution.
Correct answer: An example of a theory is natural selection.
Q2.
Match the word to its meaning.
Correct Answer:natural selection,Better adapted organisms are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Better adapted organisms are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Correct Answer:evolution,The characteristics of species change over many generations.

The characteristics of species change over many generations.

Correct Answer:artificial selection,Humans choose organisms with desirable traits and breed them together.

Humans choose organisms with desirable traits and breed them together.

Q3.
Starting with variation, put the steps of natural selection in the correct order.
1 - Variation - due to chance individuals of a species have different traits.
2 - Advantage - some traits can give individuals an advantage.
3 - Competition - this advantage allows them to compete successfully.
4 - Survival - this makes them more likely to survive.
5 - Reproduction - and more likely to have offspring.
6 - Inheritance - and more likely to pass on the traits to their offspring.
Q4.
Which scientist studied the howler monkey and also noticed how different species were separated by different geographical boundaries like rivers or mountain ranges?
Charles Darwin
Correct answer: Alfred Russel Wallace
Gregor Mendel
Thomas Morgan
Q5.
Why was the theory of evolution by natural selection not accepted when it was first proposed?
Darwin hadn't yet written his book 'On the Origin of Species'.
Correct answer: How species pass on their traits to their offspring was not known.
Wallace and Darwin disagreed on the idea of natural selection.
Q6.
Match the scientist to their contribution to the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Correct Answer:Gregor Mendel...,proposed that traits are passed from parent to offspring.

proposed that traits are passed from parent to offspring.

Correct Answer:Friedrich Miescher...,extracted DNA from the nucleus.

extracted DNA from the nucleus.

Correct Answer:Rosalind Franklin....,produced the first X-ray image of DNA.

produced the first X-ray image of DNA.

Correct Answer:James Watson and Francis Crick...,showed the 3D structure of DNA.

showed the 3D structure of DNA.