What scientific mechanism for evolution did Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace propose in
1858? Describe how this concept works. What is the difference between microevolution and
macroevolution?
Solution
1. Charles Darwin during 1858 had proposed the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection,
where he has said that organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or
behavioral traits. Changes that allow an organism to better adapt to its environment will help it
survive and have more offspring.
Alfred Wallace who is also called the Father of Biogeography, studied the geographical
distribution of animal species and said the evolution is caused due to environmental pressures on
varieties of species it forces different species to adapt themselves to the local conditions, leading
to different populations in different locations.
Both groups of scientists have said that natural selection is the single most and important factor
in evolutionary changes seen in species.
Scientifically, This concept works due to different phenomenon such as:
a)Mutation- It is the Sudden change in the genetic makeup of an organism.And it is the driving
force of evolution, which influences the population’s gene pool.The change in the genetic
makeup of organism which favors the life of species makes it the fittest to survive!
b)Genetic Drift-It can occur when a small group of individuals leaves a population and
establishes a new one in a geographically isolated region.It occurs in a large population and helps
the population to survive.
c)Natural selection-This happens when populations of organisms are subjected to the
environment. The fittest creatures are more likely to survive and pass their genes to their
offspring, producing a population that is better adapted to the environment.
2.MicroEvolution-Microevolution is defined as changes in gene frequency in a population from
one generation to the next.These small changes in species occur by recombining existing genetic
material within the group of same species.
Micro Evolution is caused due to Mutation, Migration or Gene Flow, Genetic Drift and Selection
(natural and artificial).
Macro Evolution: It refers to major evolutionary changes over time, the origin of new types of
organisms from previously existing, but different, ancestral types.It is an evolution on a larger
scale where we find the descent of many species from one common ancestor over billions of
years.It is very difficult to see the Macro Evolution happening because it takes a longer time to
happen. But Instead, we can reconstruct the history of life using all available evidence like
geology, fossils, and living organisms..
What scientific mechanism for evolution did Charles Darwin and Alfred.pdf
1. What scientific mechanism for evolution did Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace propose in
1858? Describe how this concept works. What is the difference between microevolution and
macroevolution?
Solution
1. Charles Darwin during 1858 had proposed the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection,
where he has said that organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or
behavioral traits. Changes that allow an organism to better adapt to its environment will help it
survive and have more offspring.
Alfred Wallace who is also called the Father of Biogeography, studied the geographical
distribution of animal species and said the evolution is caused due to environmental pressures on
varieties of species it forces different species to adapt themselves to the local conditions, leading
to different populations in different locations.
Both groups of scientists have said that natural selection is the single most and important factor
in evolutionary changes seen in species.
Scientifically, This concept works due to different phenomenon such as:
a)Mutation- It is the Sudden change in the genetic makeup of an organism.And it is the driving
force of evolution, which influences the population’s gene pool.The change in the genetic
makeup of organism which favors the life of species makes it the fittest to survive!
b)Genetic Drift-It can occur when a small group of individuals leaves a population and
establishes a new one in a geographically isolated region.It occurs in a large population and helps
the population to survive.
c)Natural selection-This happens when populations of organisms are subjected to the
environment. The fittest creatures are more likely to survive and pass their genes to their
offspring, producing a population that is better adapted to the environment.
2.MicroEvolution-Microevolution is defined as changes in gene frequency in a population from
one generation to the next.These small changes in species occur by recombining existing genetic
material within the group of same species.
Micro Evolution is caused due to Mutation, Migration or Gene Flow, Genetic Drift and Selection
(natural and artificial).
Macro Evolution: It refers to major evolutionary changes over time, the origin of new types of
organisms from previously existing, but different, ancestral types.It is an evolution on a larger
scale where we find the descent of many species from one common ancestor over billions of
years.It is very difficult to see the Macro Evolution happening because it takes a longer time to
happen. But Instead, we can reconstruct the history of life using all available evidence like
