06-25-2025, 01:03 PM
Below are six essay-type questions with detailed answers, written from a student’s perspective, based on Chapter 2 of the Kerala 10th Standard Biology Textbook, "Paths of Evolution." . An example here is:
Discuss how the diversity of Galapagos finches supports Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection.
Answer: As a biology student, I find the Galapagos finches a compelling example of Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection, which I learned about in Chapter 2. Charles Darwin observed about 14 finch species in the Galapagos archipelago, each with distinct beak shapes and sizes suited to their diet and habitat. For instance, ground finches have strong beaks for eating seeds, cactus finches have pointed beaks for accessing cactus seeds, and tree finches have sharp beaks for catching insects. These differences arose from an ancestral finch population, demonstrating how natural selection drives diversity.
Darwin’s theory explains this through several principles. First, overproduction: finches produce more offspring than the environment can support. Second, variations: finches naturally vary in beak size and shape. Third, struggle for existence: limited food resources create competition. Fourth, survival of the fittest: finches with beaks suited to available food (e.g., small beaks for small seeds) survive and reproduce more effectively. Finally, natural selection: these favorable beak traits are passed to offspring, leading to specialized finch species over time. Research by Rosemary and Peter Grant (1973–2012) confirmed this, showing how environmental changes, like droughts, favored certain beak traits, with genes like BMP4 and ALX7 influencing beak depth and shape.
This example highlights how environmental pressures shape evolution, a concept I can apply to modern scenarios. For instance, if a new food source appears, finches with suitable beaks would thrive, illustrating natural selection’s ongoing role. The finches taught me that small variations can lead to significant evolutionary changes, reinforcing Darwin’s idea that adaptation to specific niches drives biodiversity.
TO download all 10th std Biology Textbook Ch 2 Paths of Evolution Essay Question and Answers click the link below
Kerala 10th std Biology Textbook Ch 2 Paths of Evolution Essays.pdf (Size: 176.75 KB / Downloads: 350)