Variation, natural selection and evolution
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- Explain genetic, environmental and combined variation with examples
- Tell continuous from discontinuous variation, and draw a suitable graph
- Describe the stages of natural selection in order
- Use fossils and the work of Darwin and Wallace as evidence for evolution
- Explain how antibiotic resistance develops by natural selection, with worked numbers
You should already know
- Living things and their features (Year 7 Science)
- Bacteria and antibiotics (Year 8 Science, Chapter 4: health, disease and immunity)
Where this leads
- Chromosomes, genes and alleles (Chapter 2), which give the genetic variation in this chapter
National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 3 science, Year 9. Content: 9B2 variation is genetic, environmental or both; continuous and discontinuous variation, Natural selection: variation, competition, survival, reproduction and inheritance of advantageous alleles, Fossils and the evidence for evolution; extinction; the work of Darwin and Wallace (basic), Antibiotic resistance in bacteria explained by natural selection (deepens Year 8, Chapter 4: resistance).
Exercise P Do you remember?
Method. Multiply 12 by 5.
- Multiply. Twelve lots of 5 is 60.12 x 5 = 60
- Write the answer. 60
Check. 60 divided by 5 is 12. ✓
Method. Find one fifth of 50.
- Find. 20 percent is one fifth, so divide 50 by 5.50 / 5 = 10
- Write the answer. 10
Check. 10 is 20 percent of 50. ✓
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. A sudden change in the DNA of an organism is a mutation.sudden change in the DNA
- Write the answer. mutation
Check. Mutations are a source of new alleles. ✓
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. A predator kills and eats its prey; this is predation.predation
- Write the answer. predation
Check. The predator is the eater; the prey is eaten. ✓
Method. Recall the length of a century.
- Recall. A century is one hundred years.100 years
- Write the answer. 100
Check. Ten decades make a century. ✓
Genetic, environmental and continuous variation
Variation is the difference between individuals of the same species. It can be genetic, caused by different alleles; environmental, caused by food, light, climate or experience; or both. Plants grown in full sun grow different leaves from plants grown in shade.
Continuous variation has any value in a range, such as height, and is shown on a bar chart of bands. Discontinuous variation has separate groups with no values in between, such as blood group A, B, AB or O.
Key ideas
- Genetic variation comes from different alleles.
- Environmental variation comes from surroundings such as light and food.
- Continuous variation has values across a range; discontinuous has separate groups.
- Height is continuous; blood group is discontinuous.
Method. Check whether values fall between the groups.
- Check. No pupil can be between group A and group B.no values in between
- Name it. Separate groups with no values in between are discontinuous.discontinuous
- Write the answer. discontinuous
Check. Height, by contrast, has many values in between. ✓
Method. Find the tallest bar.
- Compare. The bars are 2, 6, 9 and 3 pupils high.2, 6, 9, 3
- Choose. The tallest bar is for 9 pupils, in the 160-169 band.160-169
- Write the answer. 160-169
Check. 9 is the largest of the four counts. ✓
Method. Ask what changed between the two groups.
- Look. The plants have the same genes but grew in different light.different light
- Name it. The difference is caused by the environment.environmental
- Write the answer. environmental
Check. Same genes, different light gives environmental variation. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: height is not only genetic. Food and exercise change it, so height is both genetic and environmental.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Name the variation type with a reason, for example “environmental, because the leaves grew in different light”.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, measure the length of ten leaves from one plant, and ten from another plant of the same kind grown in a different place. Work out each mean. Say whether any difference is likely to be genetic, environmental or both.
Exercise 3A Genetic, environmental and continuous variation
Method. Recall the definition.
- Recall. Genetic variation comes from different alleles.different alleles
- Write the answer. genetic
Check. Genes are passed on by inheritance. ✓
Method. Recall the definition.
- Recall. Environmental variation comes from light, food and climate.light, food and climate
- Write the answer. environmental
Check. Different surroundings cause the difference. ✓
Method. Recall the idea.
- Recall. Some features depend on both genes and the surroundings.both genes and surroundings
- Write the answer. both genetic and environmental
Check. Height is an example. ✓
Method. Check for values in between.
- Check. Blood groups are separate groups with no values between.separate groups
- Write the answer. discontinuous
Check. Discontinuous has gaps between values. ✓
Method. Check for values in between.
- Check. Heights can take any value across a range.any value across a range
- Write the answer. continuous
Check. Continuous has values in between. ✓
Method. Find the tallest bar.
- Compare. Counts are 2, 6, 9 and 3.2, 6, 9, 3
- Choose. The largest count is 9, in the 160-169 band.160-169
- Write the answer. 160-169
Check. Nine is the largest. ✓
Method. Add the two bands.
- Add. The 150-159 band has 6 and the 170-179 band has 3.6 + 3
- Total. So the total is 9.6 + 3 = 9
- Write the answer. 9
Check. 9 is less than 20, the whole class. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read. The table gives 6 pupils in group O.6 pupils
- Write the answer. 6
Check. Check the total: 8 + 4 + 2 + 6 = 20. ✓
Method. Subtract the two counts.
- Subtract. Group A has 8 and group B has 4.8 - 4
- Calculate. So 4 more pupils have group A.8 - 4 = 4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. 4 + 4 = 8. ✓
Method. Subtract the two means.
- Subtract. The difference is 62 - 48.62 - 48
- Calculate. So the full-sun leaves are 14 mm longer.62 - 48 = 14
- Write the answer. 14
Check. 48 + 14 = 62. ✓
Method. Think about what is the same and what is different.
- Think. Same genes, different surroundings.different surroundings
- Conclude. So the environment changes the leaves.changes the leaves
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the plants have the same genes, but the light or food they get is different, so their growth differs.
Check. Environmental variation is the effect of surroundings. ✓
Method. Choose one of each.
- Genetic. A feature set by alleles, such as eye colour.alleles
- Environmental. A feature set by surroundings, such as a scar from a cut.surroundings
- Write the answer. Accept any pair, such as eye colour for genetic and a scar from a cut for environmental.
Check. Check each example has one clear cause. ✓
Natural selection
Natural selection happens in five stages. There is variation in a population. Individuals compete for food, space and mates. Those with an advantage survive and reproduce. They pass on the advantageous alleles to their offspring, through inheritance. Over many generations, the population changes.
Key ideas
- Natural selection: variation, competition, survival, reproduction, inheritance.
- Only individuals that survive can reproduce and pass on their alleles.
- Advantageous alleles become more common over generations.
- Natural selection needs variation to work.
Method. Add the two groups.
- Add. Add the green and brown beetles.60 + 20
- Calculate. So there are 80 beetles in the population.60 + 20 = 80
- Write the answer. 80
Check. 80 is the starting total. ✓
Method. Subtract the number eaten from the start.
- Subtract. Start with 20 brown beetles, and 5 are eaten.20 - 5
- Calculate. So 15 brown beetles survive.20 - 5 = 15
- Write the answer. 15
Check. 15 + 5 = 20. ✓
Method. Compare the survivors.
- Compare. Green: 60 - 30 = 30 survivors. Brown: 15 survivors.30 and 15
- Decide. Green has more survivors, so the answer is green.green
- Write the answer. green
Check. The birds take fewer brown beetles. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: natural selection does not make individuals change during their lives. Different individuals survive, and the population changes over generations.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Write the five stages in order when asked to explain natural selection, and link each stage to a named feature.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, scatter 20 red and 20 white counters on a tray, as beetles on a field. Use a spoon as a bird to pick up 10 counters one at a time, and count the survivors. Repeat once, then say which stage of natural selection you modelled.
Exercise 3B Natural selection
Method. Recall the stages in order.
- Recall. Natural selection starts with variation in the population.starts with variation
- Write the answer. variation
Check. Competition comes after variation. ✓
Method. Recall the stage.
- Recall. Individuals compete for resources and mates.compete for resources
- Write the answer. competition
Check. Competition is the stage after variation. ✓
Method. Recall what is inherited.
- Recall. The advantageous alleles are inherited by the offspring.advantageous alleles
- Write the answer. advantageous alleles
Check. Only inherited alleles can be passed on. ✓
Method. Think about how it repeats.
- Think. Each generation is selected again from the survivors.selected again
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The cycle repeats over many generations. ✓
Method. Recall the names.
- Recall. Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace both proposed natural selection.Darwin and Wallace
- Write the answer. Darwin and Wallace
Check. Darwin published the idea in 1859. ✓
Method. Add the two groups.
- Add. 60 + 20 = 80.60 + 20
- Write the answer. 80
Check. Green is 60 of 80. ✓
Method. Subtract the eaten beetles.
- Subtract. Start with 60 green, and 30 are eaten.60 - 30
- Calculate. So 30 green beetles survive.60 - 30 = 30
- Write the answer. 30
Check. 30 + 30 = 60. ✓
Method. Subtract the eaten beetles.
- Subtract. Start with 20 brown, and 5 are eaten.20 - 5
- Calculate. So 15 brown beetles survive.20 - 5 = 15
- Write the answer. 15
Check. 15 + 5 = 20. ✓
Method. Add the survivors.
- Add. Green survivors 30 and brown survivors 15.30 + 15
- Calculate. So 45 beetles survive in total.30 + 15 = 45
- Write the answer. 45
Check. The 35 eaten and 45 survivors make 80. ✓
Method. Compare 30 with 15.
- Compare. Green has 30 and brown has 15.30 and 15
- Decide. So green has the larger share.green
- Write the answer. green
Check. Green has twice as many survivors as brown. ✓
Method. Think about what the birds can see.
- Think. Brown beetles blend in with brown soil, so birds see them less.blend in
- Conclude. So more brown beetles survive and pass on their alleles.pass on their alleles
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says brown beetles are harder to see on brown soil, so fewer are eaten and more survive to reproduce.
Check. Camouflage gives an advantage. ✓
Method. Think about what selection chooses between.
- Think. Natural selection chooses between individuals that differ.chooses between
- Conclude. If all are the same, none has an advantage, so no change happens.no change happens
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says natural selection acts on differences, so if all individuals are the same, none has an advantage to be selected.
Check. Variation is the raw material of natural selection. ✓
Fossils, Darwin and Wallace, and evidence for evolution
Fossils are the remains or traces of living things, preserved in rock. In an undisturbed rock sequence, the lowest layer is the oldest. Fossils in each layer show what lived at that time, and how the animals changed.
In 1858, Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace each proposed natural selection as the way species change. Darwin published his book, On the Origin of Species, in 1859. Their work is the basis of the theory of evolution.
| Rock layer | Fossils found |
|---|---|
| Oldest layer | simple shelled sea animals |
| Middle layer | small fish-like animals |
| Youngest layer | animals with legs and lungs |
Key ideas
- Fossils are remains or traces of living things preserved in rock.
- In an undisturbed sequence, the lowest layer is the oldest.
- Darwin and Wallace proposed natural selection in 1858; Darwin published in 1859.
- Evolution is supported by fossil evidence and other evidence.
Method. Use the rule for layers.
- Use the rule. In an undisturbed sequence, the lowest layer is the oldest.lowest layer
- Name it. The lowest layer is the oldest, with simple shelled sea animals.oldest layer
- Write the answer. the oldest layer
Check. The lowest layer is the oldest. ✓
Method. Recall the year.
- Recall. Darwin published the book in 1859.1859
- Check. Darwin and Wallace proposed the idea in 1858.1858
- Write the answer. 1859
Check. 1859 is one year after 1858. ✓
Method. Compare the layers.
- Compare. The youngest layer is at the top, above the oldest layer.at the top
- Name it. So the animals with legs are younger.younger
- Write the answer. younger
Check. Younger animals are found in the higher layers. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: the fossil record is incomplete. Missing fossils do not mean the animal did not exist.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Name the layer by its position, for example “the lowest layer”, and give the fossil found in it.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, look at a picture or a real sample of sedimentary rock with layers. Say which layer is the oldest, and why. Do not dig outside or break rock.
Exercise 3C Fossils, Darwin and Wallace, and evidence for evolution
Method. Recall the definition.
- Recall. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of living things.remains or traces
- Write the answer. remains or traces of living things
Check. Fossils are found in rock. ✓
Method. Recall the rule.
- Recall. The lowest layer is the oldest in an undisturbed sequence.lowest layer
- Write the answer. bottom
Check. The top layer is the youngest. ✓
Method. Recall the book and the author.
- Recall. Charles Darwin published his book in 1859.Charles Darwin
- Write the answer. Darwin
Check. Wallace proposed the idea at the same time. ✓
Method. Recall the second name.
- Recall. Alfred Russel Wallace also proposed natural selection in 1858.Alfred Russel Wallace
- Write the answer. Wallace
Check. Both men worked on the same idea. ✓
Method. Recall the definition.
- Recall. A species is a group of similar organisms that can breed to produce fertile young.can breed
- Write the answer. a group that can breed to produce fertile young
Check. Members of one species breed together. ✓
Method. Recall the rule.
- Recall. Higher layers are formed later, so they are younger.formed later
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The lowest layer is the oldest. ✓
Method. Count the rows.
- Count. The table lists the oldest, middle and youngest layers.three layers
- Total. So there are 3 layers.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Three rows in the table. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read. The youngest layer has animals with legs and lungs.legs and lungs
- Write the answer. animals with legs and lungs
Check. Check it is the top row. ✓
Method. Recall the year.
- Recall. They first proposed natural selection in 1858.1858
- Write the answer. 1858
Check. Darwin published the book a year later. ✓
Method. Think about other kinds of evidence.
- Think. Scientists compare body structures and DNA between species.body structures and DNA
- Name one. Similar structures or DNA suggest a shared ancestor.shared ancestor
- Write the answer. Accept any one, such as comparing the body structures of different animals, or the DNA of different species.
Check. Several kinds of evidence support evolution. ✓
Method. Think about how fossils form.
- Think. Most organisms do not become fossils.do not become fossils
- Conclude. So the record has gaps, even though it is good evidence.gaps
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says many organisms do not form fossils, and fossils may be destroyed or not yet found.
Check. A gap is not the same as no evidence. ✓
Method. Think about the weight of evidence.
- Think. Fossils, DNA and body structures all point to the same pattern.same pattern
- Conclude. So missing fossils do not weaken the idea much.do not weaken
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying that many independent kinds of evidence support the same idea.
Check. Scientific ideas are judged on all the evidence. ✓
Extinction and changing environments
When the environment changes, a species may be less well adapted to survive and reproduce. If no individuals are left, the species is extinct. A species with more variation is more likely to have some individuals that cope with the change.
Biodiversity is the variety of living things. Keeping biodiversity helps species survive changes. A gene bank stores seeds or hereditary material, so that alleles are kept for the future.
| Population | Individuals | Effect of a sudden change |
|---|---|---|
| Large and varied | many | some survive, so the species continues |
| Small and uniform | few | likely to die out, so the species is extinct |
Key ideas
- Extinction: no individuals of a species are left alive.
- Variation gives some individuals a chance to survive a change.
- Biodiversity is the variety of living things.
- Gene banks store hereditary material to protect alleles.
Method. Subtract the plants that died.
- Subtract. Start with 200 plants, and 40 die.200 - 40
- Calculate. So 160 plants survive.200 - 40 = 160
- Write the answer. 160
Check. 160 + 40 = 200. ✓
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. A species with no living members has died out.no living members
- Name it. This is called extinction, so the species is extinct.extinct
- Write the answer. extinct
Check. Extinction is permanent. ✓
Method. Find 25% of 400.
- Find a quarter. 25% is one quarter, so divide 400 by 4.400 / 4
- Calculate. So 100 plants die.400 / 4 = 100
- Write the answer. 100
Check. 100 is one quarter of 400. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: extinction is permanent. A species is not extinct just because it is rare; it is extinct only when none are left.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Link variation to survival: a varied population has more chances of coping with a change.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, grow two small groups of cress seeds, one from a mixed pack and one all from one plant if possible. Compare how many grow after a cold day. Say which group has more variation and which is more likely to survive a change.
Exercise 3D Extinction and changing environments
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. When no individuals are left, the species has become extinct.no individuals are left
- Write the answer. extinction
Check. It is permanent. ✓
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. The variety of living things is called biodiversity.variety of living things
- Write the answer. biodiversity
Check. Biodiversity includes genes, species and ecosystems. ✓
Method. Recall the store.
- Recall. A gene bank stores seeds or hereditary material for the future.gene bank
- Write the answer. gene bank
Check. A gene bank protects alleles. ✓
Method. Think about what a change can do.
- Think. A change may lead to extinction if no individuals survive.lead to extinction
- Decide. So a change does not always lead to natural selection; the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Not every change leads to new alleles being selected. ✓
Method. Subtract the plants that died.
- Subtract. 200 - 40 = 160.200 - 40
- Write the answer. 160
Check. 160 + 40 = 200. ✓
Method. Find a quarter of 400.
- Find. 25% is one quarter, so 400 / 4 = 100.400 / 4 = 100
- Write the answer. 100
Check. 100 is one quarter of 400. ✓
Method. Think about the advantage.
- Think. Alleles for cold tolerance give the tall plants an advantage.advantage
- Decide. So the tall plants are more likely to survive.tall
- Write the answer. tall
Check. The advantage is what helps survival. ✓
Method. Compare the numbers.
- Compare. Fewer individuals means a higher risk of extinction.higher risk
- Decide. So the species with 3 individuals is at more risk.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Three is much less than 3000. ✓
Method. Think about the alleles.
- Think. Different individuals have different alleles.different alleles
- Conclude. Some of them may help the species survive the change.survive the change
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says variation means some individuals may have alleles that help them cope with the change.
Check. Variation is a reserve for change. ✓
Method. Think about crops and pollinators.
- Think. Many food plants depend on insects and other species.depend on other species
- Conclude. So losing species can threaten food supplies.threaten food
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says many crops and wild species depend on each other and on varied genes.
Check. Biodiversity supports food. ✓
Method. Think about the future.
- Think. Environments change over time.change over time
- Conclude. Stored alleles may be needed in the future.needed in the future
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the alleles may be needed in future if the environment changes.
Check. A gene bank keeps options open. ✓
Antibiotic resistance and natural selection
Antibiotic resistance is when a bacterium is no longer killed by an antibiotic. Resistance comes from a chance mutation, a random change in the DNA. Most bacteria are killed by the antibiotic. The few resistant bacteria survive, and they reproduce, passing the resistance allele on.
This is natural selection: the antibiotic is the environment, the resistant bacteria have the advantage, and over generations most of the population becomes resistant.
Antibiotics do not work on viruses, so they should not be used for colds or flu. Antibiotics should be taken only when a doctor says they are needed, and the whole course should be finished.
| Stage | Bacteria in the population | Resistant bacteria | Percentage resistant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before antibiotic | 1000 | 10 | 1% |
| After antibiotic (survivors) | 10 | 10 | 100% |
| After reproduction (model) | 1000 | 1000 | 100% |
Key ideas
- Resistance comes from a chance mutation, not from the antibiotic.
- The antibiotic kills the non-resistant bacteria; the resistant ones survive.
- Survivors reproduce and pass on the resistance allele: this is natural selection.
- Antibiotics do not work on viruses.
Method. Divide the resistant number by the total, then multiply by 100.
- Divide. 10 / 1000 = 0.01.10 / 1000 = 0.01
- Convert. Multiply by 100 to get a percentage.0.01 x 100 = 1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. 1% of 1000 is 10. ✓
Method. Find the number that are not resistant, then subtract.
- Subtract. The non-resistant bacteria are 1000 - 10 = 990.1000 - 10 = 990
- Survivors. The 990 are killed, so only the resistant 10 survive.10 survive
- Write the answer. 10
Check. 10 survive from 1000. ✓
Method. Multiply the survivors by 100.
- Multiply. 10 survivors x 100 offspring each.10 x 100
- Calculate. So there are 1000 resistant bacteria.10 x 100 = 1000
- Write the answer. 1000
Check. The population is now all resistant. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: the antibiotic does not cause the mutation. The mutation happens by chance, and the antibiotic selects the resistant bacteria that already exist.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Explain resistance in five steps: variation, antibiotic, survival, reproduction, inheritance. Each step should be a full sentence.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). Do not handle bacteria. Instead, with your teacher, use a counter model: 100 red counters (bacteria) with 2 blue counters (resistant), and remove the red ones at random. Count the blues left, and say why resistant bacteria are more common after treatment.
Exercise 3E Antibiotic resistance and natural selection
Method. Recall the definition.
- Recall. A resistant bacterium is not killed by the antibiotic.not killed
- Write the answer. an antibiotic no longer kills the bacterium
Check. Resistance is a feature of the bacterium. ✓
Method. Recall the rule.
- Recall. Antibiotics work on bacteria, not viruses.work on bacteria
- Write the answer. no
Check. So antibiotics are not used for colds or flu. ✓
Method. Recall the source.
- Recall. A chance mutation in the DNA gives resistance.chance mutation
- Write the answer. mutation
Check. The antibiotic selects; it does not create the allele. ✓
Method. Recall the process.
- Recall. The survivors reproduce, so the resistant type becomes more common by natural selection.more common
- Write the answer. natural selection
Check. The antibiotic is the selecting environment. ✓
Method. Recall the rule.
- Recall. A cold is caused by a virus, and antibiotics do not work on viruses.caused by a virus
- Write the answer. no
Check. Only use antibiotics when a doctor says they are needed. ✓
Method. Subtract the resistant bacteria from the total.
- Subtract. 1000 - 10 = 990.1000 - 10
- Write the answer. 990
Check. 990 + 10 = 1000. ✓
Method. Divide and multiply by 100.
- Divide. 20 / 2000 = 0.01.20 / 2000 = 0.01
- Convert. 0.01 x 100 = 1%.1%
- Write the answer. 1
Check. 1% of 2000 is 20. ✓
Method. Multiply the survivors by 100.
- Multiply. 10 x 100 = 1000.10 x 100
- Write the answer. 1000
Check. 1000 / 10 = 100 each. ✓
Method. Only the resistant ones survive.
- Subtract. There are 495 non-resistant bacteria, which are all killed.500 - 5 = 495
- Count. So 5 resistant bacteria are left.5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. 5 + 495 = 500. ✓
Method. Multiply the survivors by 50.
- Multiply. 5 x 50 = 250.5 x 50 = 250
- Write the answer. 250
Check. 250 / 5 = 50. ✓
Method. Think about the survivors.
- Think. If treatment stops early, some bacteria survive.some survive
- Conclude. Resistant survivors may reproduce and become more common.become more common
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says stopping early can leave some bacteria alive, and the resistant ones may then reproduce and spread.
Check. Natural selection works on survivors. ✓
Method. Follow the survivors through the model.
- Think. Only the resistant bacteria survive the antibiotic.only the resistant
- Conclude. Their offspring are all resistant, so the whole population becomes resistant.all resistant
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the resistant bacteria survived and reproduced, so they make up the whole population.
Check. The advantage of resistance is the whole story. ✓
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Variation | Genetic (alleles), environmental (surroundings) or both; continuous (a range) or discontinuous (groups). |
| Natural selection | Variation, competition, survival, reproduction, inheritance of advantageous alleles. |
| Fossils | Remains or traces in rock; in an undisturbed sequence, the lowest layer is the oldest. |
| Darwin and Wallace | Proposed natural selection in 1858; Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859. |
| Extinction | No individuals of a species left; variation gives a better chance to survive change. |
| Antibiotic resistance | A chance mutation; the antibiotic kills non-resistant bacteria; resistant survivors reproduce. |
Can you…?
- I can explain genetic, environmental and combined variation, with examples
- I can tell continuous from discontinuous variation and read a bar chart of it
- I can put the stages of natural selection in order, and link each one to an example
- I can use fossils, Darwin and Wallace as evidence for evolution
- I can explain antibiotic resistance by natural selection, with worked numbers
Key terms
- variation
- the differences between individuals of the same species
- genetic variation
- variation caused by different alleles
- environmental variation
- variation caused by surroundings such as light and food
- continuous variation
- variation with values across a range, such as height
- discontinuous variation
- variation in separate groups, such as blood group
- natural selection
- the process by which individuals with advantageous alleles survive and reproduce more
- fossil
- the remains or traces of a living thing preserved in rock
- extinction
- when no individuals of a species are left alive
- biodiversity
- the variety of living things
- gene bank
- a store of seeds or hereditary material kept for the future
- mutation
- a sudden, random change in DNA
- antibiotic resistance
- when a bacterium is no longer killed by an antibiotic
Exercise 3Z Check-up
Method. Check for values in between.
- Check. Blood groups are separate groups.separate groups
- Write the answer. discontinuous
Check. Height is continuous. ✓
Method. The genes are the same, the light is different.
- Think. Only the surroundings are different.surroundings
- Write the answer. environmental
Check. Environmental variation comes from surroundings. ✓
Method. Recall the stages.
- Recall. Natural selection starts with variation.starts with variation
- Write the answer. variation
Check. Competition comes next. ✓
Method. Recall the names.
- Recall. Darwin and Wallace proposed natural selection in 1858.Darwin and Wallace
- Write the answer. Darwin and Wallace
Check. Darwin published in 1859. ✓
Method. Recall the rule.
- Recall. The lowest layer is the oldest.lowest layer
- Write the answer. bottom
Check. The top layer is the youngest. ✓
Method. Add the two groups.
- Add. 60 + 20 = 80.60 + 20
- Write the answer. 80
Check. 60 is three quarters of 80. ✓
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. With no individuals left, the species is extinct.no individuals left
- Write the answer. extinct
Check. Extinction is permanent. ✓
Method. Recall the use.
- Recall. A gene bank keeps seeds or hereditary material safe.keeps safe
- Conclude. So the alleles are kept for the future.kept for the future
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying it stores seeds or hereditary material to keep alleles for the future.
Check. Gene banks protect biodiversity. ✓
Method. Divide by the total and multiply by 100.
- Divide. 10 / 1000 = 0.01.10 / 1000 = 0.01
- Convert. 0.01 x 100 = 1%.1%
- Write the answer. 1
Check. 1% of 1000 is 10. ✓
Method. Follow the steps of natural selection.
- Think. Resistant bacteria survive the antibiotic.survive
- Conclude. They reproduce and pass on the resistance allele.pass on the allele
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying resistant bacteria survive the antibiotic, reproduce and pass on the allele.
Check. Natural selection links survival and reproduction. ✓
Total 18 marks. Allow about 18 minutes.
Exercise 3X Practice test questions
Method. Recall the definition.
- Recall. Genetic variation comes from alleles.alleles
- Write the answer. genetic
Check. Genes are inherited. ✓
Method. Find the largest count.
- Compare. The counts are 2, 6, 9 and 3.2, 6, 9, 3
- Choose. The largest is 9, for the band 160-169.160-169
- Write the answer. 160-169
Check. 9 is the largest count. ✓
Method. Recall the order.
- Recall. The order is variation, competition, survival.competition, survival
- Write the answer. competition
Check. Competition leads to survival. ✓
Method. Think about what fossils show.
- Think. Fossils in layers show forms that changed over time.changed over time
- Name two. So older forms in lower layers, and newer forms above, support evolution.older and newer forms
- Write the answer. Accept any two sensible reasons, such as that fossils show older and younger forms in layers, and that changes appear over time.
Check. Two sensible reasons are needed. ✓
Method. Subtract the plants that died.
- Subtract. 200 - 40 = 160.200 - 40
- Write the answer. 160
Check. 160 + 40 = 200. ✓
Method. Divide, then multiply by 100.
- Divide. 5 / 500 = 0.01.5 / 500 = 0.01
- Convert. 0.01 x 100 = 1%.1%
- Write the answer. 1
Check. 1% of 500 is 5. ✓
Method. Think about what causes a cold.
- Think. A cold is caused by a virus.caused by a virus
- Conclude. Antibiotics work on bacteria, so they do not cure a cold.work on bacteria
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying a cold is caused by a virus, and antibiotics work only on bacteria.
Check. Viruses are not killed by antibiotics. ✓
Method. Follow the steps of natural selection.
- Variation. The population has green and brown beetles.green and brown
- Survival. Birds eat the more visible beetles, so the others survive.others survive
- Inheritance. The survivors reproduce, and the advantageous allele becomes more common.more common
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that describes birds eating more visible beetles, the survivors reproducing, and the advantageous allele becoming more common.
Check. Each stage links to the next. ✓
Method. Think about the alleles that help.
- Think. Varied populations have a range of alleles.range of alleles
- Conclude. Some individuals may survive the change and carry on the species.carry on
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says variation gives some individuals alleles that help them survive the change.
Check. Variation is a reserve for change. ✓
Method. Recall the book and the year.
- Recall. Charles Darwin published his book in 1859.Charles Darwin, 1859
- Write the answer. Darwin, 1859
Check. The idea was proposed in 1858. ✓