Question

Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos Island is an examples of:
1. Mutation
2. ​Convergent evolution
3. Concept of use and disuse
4. Adaptive radiation

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Adaptive radiation

Concept:

• Charles Darwin made a sea voyage around the world in a ship named H.M.S. Beagle.
• When he arrived at an island called the Galapagos island, he saw some finches and observed differences in the shapes of their beaks.
• He concluded that this change is due to the different eating habits of the finches thus, he gave the concept of Adaptive radiation.

Explanation:

• Adaptive radiation: It is the evolutionary process in which different species starting from a common point in a given geographical area radiate to other geographical areas or habitats.
• The best example of Adaptive radiation is Darwin's finches.
• Darwin observed many varieties of finches on the Galapagos island.
• All these varieties evolved from the original seed-eating finches. With the alternation in beaks, some become insectivorous while the others remain vegetarian.
• This alternation in the beak's shape occurred due to the availability of certain types of food in different habitats. For eg. finches living on trees developed sharp beaks to peck the tree and eat the insects.

• Mutation: It is defined as the change of gene sequence in the organism’s genome by deletion, addition, or translocation such that it alters the genetic message carried by that gene.
• The concept of use and disuse of organs was given by Lamarck. According to him the evolution of life occurred due to the use and disuse of organs.
• Convergent evolution is the process in which organisms that are not closely related evolve independently having similar characters because of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches (habitats).