Chapter 7

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Chapter 7

The theory of evolution is the theory that single-celled organisms have changed and mutated (evolved) into much more complex organisms of today.

Natural selection is nature's way of selected the fittest type of a certain organism would live to be able to reproduce because it was best adapted to the environment, killing off the weak.

Darwin set out on the Beagle in 1831 and published On The Origin of Species in 1859, 28 years later.

Darwin's 'big idea' was the theory of natural selection.

When a mutation has a good effect it produces an adaptation that makes an organism better suited to its environment. This makes it more likely to survive and breed. The mutation then gets passed on to the next generation. This is natural selection.

Scientists classify living organisms by studying similarities and differences between them. The big groups are called kingdoms and the smallest are called species. All living organisms are either animals, plants or microor

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