NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 6 Evolution

*As per the revised curriculum of CBSE Syllabus 2023-24, this chapter, previously known as Chapter 7, has now been renumbered as Chapter 6. Stay updated with the latest changes in the curriculum.

Evolution Class 12 NCERT Solution is all about the process of Evolution, the benefits of evolution reasons for evolution. These NCERT Solutions are prepared by our Top Biology Experts in order to take care of all Important Topics that might be asked in the upcoming examination 2023. So, Students can also refer to these solutions for their final Examination preparation.

This Class 12 Biology Chapter 6 Evolution NCERT Solutions are carefully developed using easy-to-understand language while adhering to the guidelines for solving NCERT Solutions for Class 12. Working through these solutions can be highly beneficial for students in their board exams, as well as in preparing for future competitive Exams.

Evolution Class 12 Questions and Answers

NCERT Solution for class 12 Evolution explains evolution that occurred from a common single-celled ancestor to the huge number of single cellular and multicellular organisms we see today. It also gives details on human evolution and the characteristics of our ancestors. Revise the basic concepts of evolution for quick revision and class notes.

Q1: Explain antibiotic resistance observed in bacteria in light of Darwinian selection theory.

Answer:

Darwin’s theory of natural selection or Darwinian selection theory emphasizes the fact that nature promotes the survival and reproduction of organisms having suitable adaptation to survive in changing environmental conditions. Like if a particular geographical area submerges in water then nature will promote those organisms which adapt to live in water or find another region to live in. One of the common instances of this phenomenon is the development of antibiotic resistance among many bacterial species. In this phenomenon when an antibiotic is introduced in a medium containing bacterial species, the species which are sensitive to the antibiotic die but in due course some individuals will develop resistivity among them due to mutation that will result in the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacterial colonies in the medium rendering the effect of the antibiotic introduced null.

Q2: Find out from newspapers and popular science articles any new fossil discoveries or controversies about evolution.

Answer:

One of the latest fossil discoveries is the extraction of a woman’s DNA from a 20,000 years old paleolithic artifact discovered in the Denisova Cave of Southern Siberia. Another discovery is the 15-meter-long-necked Jurassic Chinese Sauropod which is known as Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum in northwestern China. One of the fossilized bird species whose discovery has caused controversy over the evolution of birds is Confuciusornis. They are small crow-sized birds from the early Cretaceous period but unlike other species of birds from that period, this species lacked teeth in their beak. 

Q3: Attempt to give a clear definition of the term species.

Answer:

Species can be clearly defined as a group of organisms that can interbreed among themselves which should result in the production of fertile offspring. 

Q4: Try to trace the various components of human evolution (hint: brain size and function, skeletal structure, dietary preference, etc.)

Answer:

Tracing human evolution with its various components will be like this;

1. Dryopithecus Africans have a cranial capacity of around 500 cc and large canines, arms, and legs of equal size. They showed knuckled walking that was similar to gorillas and chimpanzees and preferred eating soft fruits and leaves.
2. Ramapithecus has a cranial capacity of around 500 to 600 cc, small canines, and large molars. They showed semi-erect posture and preferred eating seeds and nuts. 
3. Australopithecus africanus has a cranial capacity of around 450-500 cc, small canines, and small incisors. They showed full erect posture with an approximate height of 1.05 meters, lived in trees, hunted with stone weapons, and preferred eating fruits i.e. were herbivores.
4. Homo habilis has a cranial capacity of around 650 to 800 cc and small canines. They showed fully erect posture with an average height of 1.5 meters, were the first tool makers, and preferred eating meat i.e. carnivorous. 
5. Homo erectus has a cranial capacity of around 900 cc. They showed fully erect posture with an average height of 1.5 to 1.8 meters, used stones and bone tools for hunting games, and were omnivores. 
6. Homo neanderthalnsis has a cranial capacity of around 1400 cc. They showed fully erect posture with an average height of 1.5 to 1.66 meters, were cave dwellers, buried their dead, used hides to protect their bodies, and were omnivorous.
7. Homo sapiens fossils have a cranial capacity of around 1600 cc. They showed fully erect posture with an average height of 1.8 meters, had a strong jaw with closed teeth, were cave dwellers, made paintings and carvings in caves, were omnivores, had a culture, and thus called the first modern man. 
8. Homo sapiens have a cranial capacity of around 1200 to 1600 cc. They show fully erect posture with an average height of around 1.5 to 1.8 meters, are the living modern man, have high intelligence, developed art, culture, language, speech, crop cultivation, are domesticated animals, and are omnivores. 

Q5: Find out through the internet and popular science articles whether animals other than men have self-consciousness.

Answer:

There are many animals other than humans that have shown certain degrees of intelligence or self-consciousness in them like chimpanzees, gorillas, orang-utans, parrots, crows, cats, dogs, dolphins, etc. One example is Chimpanzees can recognize themselves in a mirror or cats grooming themselves from time to time, etc. However, one of the most astonishing examples is the ability to recognize others, and communicate with each other by whistles or tail-slapping in dolphins, this shows that they have a huge level of self-consciousness as well as intelligence. 

Q6: List 10 modern-day animals and using the internet resources link them to a corresponding ancient fossil. Name both. 

Answer:

Ten modern-day animals and their corresponding ancient fossils are;

1. Modern-day man (Homo sapiens sapiens) and their ancient Ramapithecus counterpart.
2. Morden day horse (Equus caballus) and their ancient Eohippus counterpart.
3. Modern-day dogs (Canis familiaris) and their ancient Leptocyon counterpart.
4. Modern-day camel (Camelus) and their ancient Protylopus counterpart.
5. Modern-day elephant (Elephas maximus) and their ancient Moerithers counterpart.
6. Modern-day whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and their ancient Protocetus counterpart.
7. Modern-day fish (Balaenoptera musculus) and their ancient Arandaspis counterpart.
8. Modern-day tetrapods (Tetrapoda) and their ancient Icthyostega counterpart.
9. Modern-day bats (Chiroptera) and their ancient Archaeonycteris counterpart.
10. Modern-day giraffes (Giraffa) and their ancient Palaeotragus counterpart. 

Q7: Practice drawing various Animals and Plants

Answer:

Some of the drawings of plants and animals are;

Q8: Describe one example of adaptive radiation:

Answer:

The adaptation of an organism that enables them to radiate into other environments and spread successfully is called adaptive radiation. One example of these types of adaptation is Darwin’s finches. At present, there are different types of species found in the Galapagos Islands. These species have different types of diets like insects, blood, etc. and to suit their feeding habits they even have different types of beaks. All these different species present today evolved from a single species that reached this island accidentally. 

Q9: Can we call human evolution adaptive radiation?

Answer:

No, human evolution is not an example of adaptive radiation as in adaptive radiation the evolution occurs that results in the diversification of species from a single ancestral species. In the case of humans, evolution was gradual, slow or time taking, and linear. 

Q10: Using various resources such as your school Library or the internet and discussions with your teacher, trace the evolutionary stages of any one animal, say a horse.

Answer:

The evolution of horse showed the following characteristics;

1. Their body size increased
2. The size of their limbs increased
3. Head and neck elongated
4. Their backs strengthened
5. Reduction in the number of digits
6. Enlargement of the third functional toe
7. Development of complex teeth for feeding on grass
8. Development of brain and sensory organs

Stages of horse’s evolution;

Eohippus from the Eocene period –> Mesohippus from the Oligocene period –> Merychippus from the Miocene period –> Pliohippus from the Pliocene period –> Eqqus from the Pleistocene period.

FAQs on Evolution Class 12 NCERT Solution

Q1: What is the name of chapter 6 of NCERT class 12 Biology?

Answer:

Class 12 Biology Chapter 6 name is Evolution which is about evolution that occurred from a common single-celled ancestor to the huge number of single cellular and multicellular organisms we see today.

Q2: Where can I find NCERT solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 6?

Answer:

NCERT solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 6 can be found on various online platforms such as the official NCERT website, GeeksForGeeks, and more.

Q3: Why are NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 6 beneficial for the students??

Answer:

The benefits of using the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 5 are:

1. Completely solved answers for all the questions present in the NCERT textbook are available in PDF format.
2. Simple and easy-to-understand language is used to make learning fun for the students.
3. Top Subject matter experts prepare the solutions after conducting vast research on each concept.
4. The solutions not only help students with their board exam preparation but also for various competitive exams like JEE, NEET, etc.