Darwin & Friends
This economist’s ideas about the struggle for survival influenced Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
Thomas Malthus
This type of evolution refers to small changes within a species, like sparrows getting bigger or smaller.
What is microevolution?
The geological column’s interpretation depends on assumptions, making it this type of evidence for macroevolution.
What is inconclusive?
Though some believe this creature is a link between man and ape, its features are all ape-like.
What is an ape
In neo-Darwinism, the speed of evolutionary change is attributed to these.
What are mutations?
This geologist proposed that “the present is the key to the past,” an idea that greatly influenced Darwin.
Sir Charles Lyell
This type of evolution involves major changes that can turn one kind of creature into another, like a cow into a whale.
What is macroevolution?
This theory tries to explain the lack of intermediate links by proposing that changes happened quickly and rarely fossilized.
What is punctuated equilibrium?
This form of comparison between organisms used to support macroevolution until genetic evidence challenged it.
What is structural homology?
This molecule determines amino acid sequences in proteins, acting as a blueprint for life.
What is DNA?
According to Darwin, this mechanism explains how traits that give a survival advantage become more common.
natural selection
This newer version of Darwinism says that mutations add information to the genetic code.
What is neo-Darwinism
Darwin’s original hypothesis suggested this kind of change over time.
What is slow (or gradual) change?
Scientists now compare protein structures or these sequences to determine evolutionary relationships.
What are nucleotide (or amino acid) sequences?
Scientists must assume how this structure was formed in order to use it as evidence for macroevolution.
What is the geological column?
Darwin would say that this big cat evolved through generations of predators being slightly faster than their peers.
What is a cheetah?
Darwin believed macroevolution happened through normal variations caused by this process.
What is reproduction?
This version of evolution includes short bursts of rapid change, then long periods of stability.
What is punctuated equilibrium?
According to macroevolutionists, this is the expected order of increasing similarity to human protein: amoeba, fish, frog, this rodent.
What is a rat?
This type of event, such as a flood or volcanic eruption, can also create rock strata quickly.
What is a natural catastrophe?
In Darwinian terms, an organism that has a beneficial trait is considered more this.
What is fit
For the geological column to support macroevolution, you must assume each rock layer formed over long periods as proposed by this scientist.
Who is Sir Charles Lyell
To get from one species to another, evolutionists expect to find many of these transitional fossils.
What are intermediate links?
Neo-Darwinists believe these changes to DNA are what add new information to the genetic code.
What are mutations?
Without knowing whether rock strata formed slowly or rapidly, conclusions about evolution are this.
What is uncertain or inconclusive?