Explain why Darwin was drawn as a monkey?

This rather strange question is an example of an actual exam problem taken from the 2017 AQA Biology Exam which threw a lot of students off. The question in itself, however, is a good starting point for talking about natural selection, evolution – and the dreaded how science works section of the GCSE biology exam, along with a sprinkling of creative thinking which will come in handy later. So, where should we start? Looking at the question, the first thing that comes to mind is the central figure himself - Darwin, and his main theories. Whilst this seems a simple place to start, it provides the groundwork for the big topics in biology which will almost certainly pop up later on an exam paper: antibiotic resistance, genetics and the discovery of new ideas.

Starting with Darwin: Darwin was a Victorian biologist who published the controversial book “On the origin of species” in 1859. In the book, he fought against the ideas of the time about creation with his own idea of evolution by natural selection. While other scientists viewed God as the ultimate creator, Darwin suggested a more gradual process, in which species change slowly over time, eventually resulting in a new species altogether. For example, humans evolved from a common ape-like ancestor over six million years ago. This process of species formation is known as evolution, and forms the foundation of Darwin’s work. However, whilst the idea is widely accepted now, at the time, his work was rejected as being un-Christian and many people objected to his idea that we came from an ape like ancestor, ridiculing Darwin by depicting him as a monkey and criticising his work. Even people who agreed with Darwin argued over the precise details of his scientific theory, and how humans were formed. In addition to proposing the evolutionary theory, Darwin also argued that the changes which occur over time to make a new species, are determined by another process - natural selection. According to Darwin, natural selection is the vehicle for evolution – basically, the tool evolution uses to create a new species. In this process there is wide variation amongst members of a species: for example the ability to run quickly or slowly away from a predator. Some of these variations make individuals more likely to survive and have children than other members of the same species. So, a giraffe with a long neck that can reach high hanging fruit, will be better “adapted” to survive in an area with lots of high trees and will survive longer than giraffes with shorter necks who can’t reach the same fruit. This is the famous “survival of the fittest” idea. As these long neck giraffes are more likely to survive and have offspring, they will have have more children than giraffes with shorter necks, passing on the trait for “long-necks” to the next generation. Eventually changes such as “long necks” will increase in frequency in the species, making it better adapted to its environment. This theory is supported by a range of evidence, looking at the fossil record and modern laboratory findings, and is widely supported by scientists today.