Natural selection and evolution

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Question 1
Hard

This question is about the history of evolutionary theory and the development of life on Earth.

a.

What is meant by the biological term natural selection?

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b.

Describe the work of Charles Darwin on the Galapagos Islands which led him to develop his theory of evolution by natural selection.

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c.

For the first billion years of life on Earth, photosynthetic organisms relied on hydrogen sulfide (H2SH_2SH2​S) as an electron donor in anoxygenic photosynthesis: carbon dioxide+hydrogen sulfide⟶glucose+sulfur+water\text{carbon dioxide} + \text{hydrogen sulfide} \longrightarrow \text{glucose} + \text{sulfur} + \text{water}carbon dioxide+hydrogen sulfide⟶glucose+sulfur+water Following the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis, water (H2OH_2OH2​O) was used instead: carbon dioxide+water⟶glucose+oxygen\text{carbon dioxide} + \text{water} \longrightarrow \text{glucose} + \text{oxygen}carbon dioxide+water⟶glucose+oxygen Explain why the transition from anoxygenic photosynthesis to oxygenic photosynthesis allowed primary producers to multiply and diversify dramatically, and how this enabled the evolution of complex, multicellular aerobic organisms.

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d.

Scientists observe that when a population of herbivorous insects is exposed to a new chemical pesticide, the insect population often begins to evolve resistance extremely rapidly.

Explain why this statement is true.

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Natural selection and evolution Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Biology
  3. /Natural selection and evolution