1. Theories of Evolution
Key words: acquired, natural selection

2. Starter
Lets get a grip of Evolution and Natural Selection through the following interactive video;

3. What are the theories of evolution?
Objective
What are the theories of evolution?
Success Criteria
By the end of the lesson I:
can explain the two theories of evolution
and who has created them
can explain evidence that supports one of
the theories
can identify the evidence for evolution

4. Who was Charles Darwin?

5. Natural selection of Finches
This is just one of the examples that got Darwin thinking about
natural selection.

6. Summary Darwin's finches
He noticed that the finches (songbirds) on
the different islands there were fundamentally
similar to each other, but showed wide variations in
their size, beaks and claws from island to island.
For example, their beaks were different depending
on the local food source.
Darwin concluded that, because the islands are so
distant from the mainland, the finches that had
arrived there in the past had changed over time.

7. Darwin’s theory of evolution
The British naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882) later suggested a more persuasive argument for evolution.
Darwin proposed that evolution took place through natural and sexual selection.
Darwin developed his theory of evolution after noticing close similarities between certain fossils and the adaptations of modern day animals he saw during his round-the-world voyage on the HMS Beagle.

8. Controversial research
Darwin knew that in religious Victorian society his findings would be controversial and blasphemous. He was unwilling to publish and risk his reputation.
However, when Darwin learned that another British naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, had proposed an almost identical theory of natural selection, he published his findings.
Photo credit: Darek Krzeminski
Luckily, a handful of influential scientists were convinced by Darwin's work and spoke out in public to promote his ideas.

9. Could Darwin explain everything?
Darwin made extensive use of specimens and fossil evidence to explain his theory of evolution, but because DNA and genes had not yet been discovered, he was unable to explain why traits varied within individuals or how they were inherited.
Victorian scientists found it difficult to test Darwin’s theory. For his theory to work, the Earth needed to be millions of years old, but its age was not known at that time.
In addition, little was known about the process of fossilization or how to explain gaps in the fossil record.

10. Lamarck’s theory of evolution
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck ( ) was a French botanist who believed that species evolved because they inherited traits acquired through the over or under-use of body parts.
How would this theory explain a giraffe’s long neck?
The short-necked ancestors of modern giraffes needed to reach the leaves on tall trees when food was scarce.
Over their lifetimes these giraffes stretched their necks; a trait which was then passed on to their offspring.

11. What evidence for evolution?
Observing how changes
in genes can be
passed from one
generation to another
Fossil record
Studying similarities
and differences
between living species

12. Theory of Evolution Plenary
The theory of evolution states that all present day organisms (and many more that are now extinct) have evolved from simpler organisms over long periods of time (billions of years)
DARWINs theory is that evolution takes place through natural selection
LAMARCKs theory is that all organisms originated from worms and that this was caused by the inheritance of acquired characteristics

13. Why is it important for students to know about evolution?
Science vs religion
Read page 116 and answer
Why is it important for students to know about evolution?
Include – evidence of evolution
- the current scientific theories
- final comment stating your opinion

14. What are the theories of evolution?
Objective
What are the theories of evolution?
Success Criteria
By the end of the lesson I:
can explain the two theories of evolution
and who has created them
can explain evidence that supports one of
the theories
can identify the evidence for evolution