Test: Theories of Evolution - JAMB MCQ

Charles Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection as the driving force of evolution. According to Darwin, individuals within a population exhibit variations, and those variations that provide a reproductive advantage are more likely to be passed on to the next generation. Over time, these advantageous traits accumulate, leading to the gradual evolution of a species.

Lamarck's theory of evolution posits that organisms can acquire new traits during their lifetime, and these acquired traits can be passed on to their offspring. According to Lamarck, if an organism develops a characteristic or behavior during its lifetime due to environmental factors or needs, that acquired trait will be inherited by its offspring.

Lamarck's theory of evolution is commonly referred to as the inheritance of acquired characteristics. This theory suggests that changes occurring in an organism during its lifetime can be inherited by its offspring. Lamarck proposed that individuals could pass on traits acquired through their interactions with the environment, such as physical modifications or behavioral changes.

Lamarckism suggests that traits acquired by an organism during its lifetime can be passed on to its offspring. This inheritance of acquired characteristics is a fundamental concept in Lamarck's theory of evolution.

Darwin's theory of natural selection does not include the concept of use and disuse of organs. The theory is based on observations such as the overproduction of offspring, genetic variation within populations, the struggle for existence, and the differential reproductive success of individuals with favorable variations.

According to Darwin's theory, natural selection is the primary driving force behind the evolution of species. Natural selection acts on the heritable variations within a population, favoring those individuals with traits that provide a reproductive advantage in their specific environment.

The organic theory of evolution was proposed by Herbert Spencer. Spencer extended Darwin's ideas of evolution and natural selection and suggested that evolution is a progressive and continuous process, leading to the development of complex organisms from simpler ones.

Gradualism is a key component of the organic theory of evolution. According to this concept, species evolve gradually and continuously over long periods of time through the accumulation of small, incremental changes in traits and characteristics.

The organic theory of evolution proposes that species evolve through the gradual accumulation of small changes over long periods of time. This gradualism suggests that significant transformations in species occur through the accumulation of numerous small variations rather than sudden and dramatic events.

Genetic drift is not a mechanism of evolution proposed by Darwin. Genetic drift refers to random changes in gene frequencies within a population, primarily occurring in small populations where chance events have a more significant impact.