AQA GCSE Biology Foundation (8461), Foundation tier · Inheritance, variation and evolution › Understanding of genetics and evolution
Practise Speciation. 7 exam-style questions plus unlimited generated ones on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
The work of Alfred Russel Wallace and how new species form. This is in GCSE Biology only, not in Combined Science. Expect recall questions about Wallace and Darwin and 4 to 6 mark 'describe how a new species could form' questions about populations that have been separated.
Key facts
Wallace independently proposed evolution by natural selection
1858: joint writings with Darwin → 1859: Darwin published On the Origin of Species
Wallace is best known for warning colouration in animals and his theory of speciation
Species = organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
Notes
Alfred Russel Wallace
Alfred Russel Wallace independently proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection.
He published joint writings with Darwin in 1858, which prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species (1859) the following year.
Wallace worked worldwide gathering evidence for evolutionary theory. He is best known for his work on warning colouration in animals and his theory of speciation.
Warning colouration: bright colours on animals that are poisonous or dangerous warn predators to leave them alone, so these colours can be favoured by natural selection.
Wallace did much pioneering work on speciation, but more evidence over time has led to our current understanding of the theory of speciation.
The impact of Darwin and Wallace
Their theory explains how the huge variety of living things evolved from common ancestors, and it is the basis of how biologists study and classify living things today.
Scientific ideas such as the theory of speciation are changed and improved as more evidence is gathered.
How to answer each type of question
Recall the work of Wallace
1 to 3 marksGrade 5
Wallace independently proposed natural selection.
Joint writings with Darwin in 1858; On the Origin of Species in 1859.
He is best known for warning colouration and speciation.
Example. (a) Give one area of biology that Alfred Russel Wallace is best known for. (b) Explain how Wallace's work affected when Darwin published On the Origin of Species. [3 marks]
Show the model answerHide the model answer
(a) Warning colouration in animals / speciation (1) (b) Wallace and Darwin published joint writings in 1858 (1), which prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species the following year, in 1859 (1).
Don’t lose marks
Leaving out the word 'fertile'. Horses and donkeys can breed, but their offspring (mules) are infertile, so they are different species.
Missing the isolation step, or not saying that the populations cannot interbreed.
Saying the organisms 'changed to suit the new environment'. Natural selection acts on variation caused by mutations.
Saying Wallace copied Darwin. Wallace proposed the theory independently, and they published joint writings in 1858.
More tips
Memory tricks
Speciation steps: Isolation, Variation, Different conditions, Natural selection, Species can't interbreed ('I Very Definitely Need Sleep').
Wallace = Warning colours (W for W).
1858 joint writings, then 1859 On the Origin of Species.
Exam technique
Use the information in the question (the barrier, and how the conditions differ) in your steps.
Include the key words: isolated, variation, mutation, natural selection, alleles, fertile offspring.
Give the steps in order; a 5-mark answer needs all five.
What each grade needs
What you need to be able to do, from the first marks up to the top grade.
Grade 3
State what Wallace independently proposedWallace independently proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Grade 4
Recall what Wallace is best known forHis work on warning colouration in animals and his theory of speciation.
Grade 5
Describe how Wallace influenced DarwinTheir joint writings in 1858 prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species in 1859.
Grade 5
Define a speciesA group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
Quick recall
Cover the answers and test yourself. The app has these as flashcards that come back just before you'd forget them.
In 1858 Wallace and Darwin published joint writings. What did this prompt Darwin to do the following year?
Publish On the Origin of Species (1859)
Put the statements in the correct order. Statement B has been done for you. B → ....... → ....... → ....... → .......
B, D, C, E, A
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy4 marks
Alfred Russel Wallace was a scientist who worked at the same time as Charles Darwin.
(a) Wallace independently proposed a scientific theory. Which theory? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
The gene theory
The theory of evolution by natural selection
The theory that characteristics gained during life are inherited
The three-domain system of classification
(b) Wallace is best known for his theory of speciation and for his work on one other topic. What was the other topic? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria
The structure of DNA
Naming organisms using two names
Warning colouration in animals
(c) In 1858 Wallace and Darwin published joint writings. What did this prompt Darwin to do the following year?[1]
(d) Speciation is the formation of new species. What is a species?[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: The theory of evolution by natural selection
(b)Answer: Warning colouration in animals
(c)Answer: Publish On the Origin of Species (1859)
publish (the book) On the Origin of Species / publish his theory
(d)Answer: A group of organisms that can breed together to produce fertile offspring
a group of organisms that can (inter)breed to produce fertile offspring
Question 2Medium7 marks
A species of small mouse lived across a large area of grassland. A wide river changed its course and split the population into two. The mice cannot cross the river. Over thousands of years the conditions on the two sides of the river became different. On one side the grass became taller and denser. On the other side the land became drier, with sandy soil.
(a) The two populations of mice may eventually become two different species. Describe how.[4]
(b) Scientists want to find out whether the two populations have become different species. Describe how they could do this.[2]
(c) Suggest one characteristic that might be selected for in the population on the dry, sandy side of the river.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
the populations are isolated (by the river) / cannot interbreed
there is (genetic) variation in each population / mutations occur in each population
the conditions / environments on the two sides are different
natural selection: in each population the individuals with the most suitable characteristics survive and breed
different alleles are passed on / become more common in each population
(eventually) the populations become so different that they can no longer interbreed to produce fertile offspring
(b)
breed a mouse from one population with a mouse from the other population
find out whether the offspring are fertile / can breed (if they are not, the populations are different species)
(c)
sandy / pale fur (for camouflage)
ability to survive with less water / produce concentrated urine
strong claws / legs for digging burrows in sandy soil