10.1 Darwin’s Voyage of Discovery
Write all things in red, sequentially in your notebook
EQ: What 3 observations did Charles Darwin make that helped form the Theory of Evolution?
Charles Darwin
• Developed the theory of biological evolution by means of natural selection which explains how modern
organisms evolved (changed) from common ancestors over long periods of time
• Reminder: A theory is a broad explanation for how things in the natural world consistently “work.”
They’re based on thousands of experiments, allow scientists to make predictions, and apply in all
situations.
• Darwin grew up in England in the 1800’s. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life (doctor, priest,
??) when the opportunity to sail around the world on the H.M.S. Beagle to collect plant and animal
specimens and document his findings arose.
• It was never his intent to come up with a controversial theory. But he couldn’t ignore the consistent
evidence he was observing.
• As he traveled, he noticed three things about biological diversity:
1. Species vary globally
• Even though there might be some similarities among different species living in similar habitats, there
were many differences worldwide.
• Ex. Rheas live in the grasslands of South America, Ostriches live only in Africa, and Emus live on the
Australian grassland.
Rhea
Ostrich
Emu
South America
Africa
Australia
2. Species vary locally
• Different, yet related, animal species often occupy different habitats (ie. mountains vs. valleys) in a local
area
3. Species vary over time.
• Darwin collected fossils that had features (phenotypes) similar
to modern-day species.
• Fossils clued him that there must be a lot of extinct species
and he wondered whether they might be related to presently
living species.
1. Answer the EQ and update your notebook
2. Complete the following new vocabulary terms: (1) Darwin, (2) Theory, (3)
Evolution