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The development of understanding of genetics and evolution key terms

Study The development of understanding of genetics and evolution with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.

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key terms

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Topic

The development of understanding of genetics and evolution

AqaGcseBiologyInheritance, variation and evolution

Key terms

  • Darwin

    Darwin is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe how Darwin developed the theory of evolution by natural selection using observations, experimentation, discussion, geology and fossils..

  • fossils

    In Theory of evolution (biology only), fossils means fossils is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe how Darwin developed the theory of evolution by natural selection using observations, experimentation, discussion, geology and fossils. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to describe how Darwin developed the theory of evolution by natural selection using observations, experimentation, discussion, geology and fossils. Use fossils only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • variation

    variation is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that individuals in a species show a wide range of variation for a characteristic..

  • Explain

    In Theory of evolution (biology only), Explain means explain is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that individuals in a species show a wide range of variation for a characteristic. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain that individuals in a species show a wide range of variation for a characteristic. Use Explain only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • best

    best is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that individuals best suited to the environment are more likely to survive and breed successfully..

  • environment

    In Theory of evolution (biology only), environment means environment is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that individuals best suited to the environment are more likely to survive and breed successfully. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain that individuals best suited to the environment are more likely to survive and breed successfully. Use environment only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • characteristics

    characteristics is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that useful characteristics are passed to the next generation..

  • next

    In Theory of evolution (biology only), next means next is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that useful characteristics are passed to the next generation. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain that useful characteristics are passed to the next generation. Use next only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • Darwin

    Darwin is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Recall that Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859..

  • On the Origin of Species

    In Theory of evolution (biology only), On the Origin of Species means on the Origin of Species is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Recall that Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to recall that Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859. Use On the Origin of Species only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • Darwin

    Darwin is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain why Darwin’s theory was controversial and only gradually accepted..

  • Explain

    In Theory of evolution (biology only), Explain means explain is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain why Darwin’s theory was controversial and only gradually accepted. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain why Darwin’s theory was controversial and only gradually accepted. Use Explain only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • Darwin

    Darwin is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that the mechanism of inheritance and variation was not known when Darwin published his theory..

  • inheritance

    In Theory of evolution (biology only), inheritance means inheritance is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that the mechanism of inheritance and variation was not known when Darwin published his theory. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain that the mechanism of inheritance and variation was not known when Darwin published his theory. Use inheritance only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • Darwin

    Darwin is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Compare Darwin’s theory with Lamarck’s idea that acquired characteristics can be inherited, noting that this is not true in most cases..

  • Lamarck

    In Theory of evolution (biology only), Lamarck means lamarck is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Compare Darwin’s theory with Lamarck’s idea that acquired characteristics can be inherited, noting that this is not true in most cases. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to compare Darwin’s theory with Lamarck’s idea that acquired characteristics can be inherited, noting that this is not true in most cases. Use Lamarck only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • creationism

    creationism is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: State that a study of creationism is not required..

  • required

    In Theory of evolution (biology only), required means required is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: State that a study of creationism is not required. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to state that a study of creationism is not required. Use required only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • appreciate

    appreciate is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Appreciate that evolutionary theory developed over time from evidence gathered by many scientists..

  • developed

    In Theory of evolution (biology only), developed means developed is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Appreciate that evolutionary theory developed over time from evidence gathered by many scientists. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to appreciate that evolutionary theory developed over time from evidence gathered by many scientists. Use developed only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • Darwin

    Darwin is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe the work of Darwin and Wallace in developing the theory of evolution by natural selection..

  • natural selection

    In Speciation (biology only), natural selection means natural selection is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe the work of Darwin and Wallace in developing the theory of evolution by natural selection. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to describe the work of Darwin and Wallace in developing the theory of evolution by natural selection. Use natural selection only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • Darwin

    Darwin is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain the impact of Darwin’s and Wallace’s ideas on biology..

  • Explain

    In Speciation (biology only), Explain means explain is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain the impact of Darwin’s and Wallace’s ideas on biology. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain the impact of Darwin’s and Wallace’s ideas on biology. Use Explain only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • Darwin

    Darwin is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Recall that Wallace independently proposed natural selection and published joint writings with Darwin in 1858..

  • natural selection

    In Speciation (biology only), natural selection means natural selection is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Recall that Wallace independently proposed natural selection and published joint writings with Darwin in 1858. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to recall that Wallace independently proposed natural selection and published joint writings with Darwin in 1858. Use natural selection only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • speciation

    speciation is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe Wallace’s work gathering evidence worldwide, including warning colouration and speciation..

  • warning colouration

    In Speciation (biology only), warning colouration means warning colouration is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe Wallace’s work gathering evidence worldwide, including warning colouration and speciation. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to describe Wallace’s work gathering evidence worldwide, including warning colouration and speciation. Use warning colouration only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • evidence over time

    evidence over time is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that evidence over time has improved current understanding of speciation..

  • speciation

    In Speciation (biology only), speciation means speciation is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that evidence over time has improved current understanding of speciation. This matters in The development of understanding of genetics and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain that evidence over time has improved current understanding of speciation. Use speciation only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

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