AQA · GCSE · Biology

    Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018

    He published joint writings with Darwin in 1858 which prompted Darwin to…

    Full specification wording

    Speciation (biology only): He published joint writings with Darwin in 1858 which prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species (1859) the following year.

    In 1858 Wallace sent Darwin an essay containing the idea of natural selection.

    Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 3 of 7
    • 3 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    In 1858 Wallace sent Darwin an essay containing the idea of natural selection. Friends arranged for extracts from Wallace's essay and from Darwin's unpublished work to be read together at the Linnean Society in London. This joint communication established that both men had reached the same conclusion. It also pushed Darwin to finish and publish his book On the Origin of Species in 1859. The book set out the evidence and the mechanism in detail, reaching a wide audience and changing biology. The sequence shows how scientific ideas are shared, checked and published, and why priority and collaboration matter in science.

    What earns the marks

    • State that joint writings by Darwin and Wallace were published in 1858.
    • Explain that the joint publication presented natural selection to the scientific community.
    • State that Darwin then published On the Origin of Species in 1859.
    • Explain that the book provided detailed evidence and made the theory widely known.
    • Recognise that publication and peer discussion are part of how scientific ideas are validated.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Saying Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1858.

      Put it right by giving 1859 for the book and 1858 for the joint writings.

    • Thinking Wallace published the book alone.

      Put it right by stating the book was Darwin's, prompted by the joint communication.

    • Believing the joint writings were a full book.

      Put it right by describing them as a joint communication of their ideas.

    Exam tips

    • Keep the two dates distinct: 1858 for the joint writings and 1859 for On the Origin of Species.
    • Use the phrase 'prompted Darwin to publish' to show the causal link.
    • Mention the Linnean Society or joint reading only if you are confident; the key point is joint publication in 1858.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Speciation (biology only): He published joint writings with Darwin in 1858 which prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species (1859) the following year. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    In which year did Wallace and Darwin publish joint writings on evolution by natural selection?

    Listen

    In 1858 Wallace sent Darwin an essay containing the idea of natural selection. Friends arranged for extracts from Wallace's essay and from Darwin's unpublished work to be read together at the Linnean Society in London. This joint communication established that both men had reached the same conclusion. It also pushed Darwin to finish and publish his book On the Origin of Species in 1859. The book set out the evidence and the mechanism in detail, reaching a wide audience and changing biology. The sequence shows how scientific ideas are shared, checked and published, and why priority and collaboration matter in science. A strong answer earns marks for these points. State that joint writings by Darwin and Wallace were published in 1858. Explain that the joint publication presented natural selection to the scientific community. State that Darwin then published On the Origin of Species in 1859. Explain that the book provided detailed evidence and made the theory widely known. A common slip: Saying Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1858. Instead, giving 1859 for the book and 1858 for the joint writings. Exam tip: Keep the two dates distinct: 1858 for the joint writings and 1859 for On the Origin of Species.

    See it

    A flowchart running from top to bottom. The first box says that Wallace sent Darwin an essay containing the idea of natural selection. An arrow leads to the second box, which says that joint writings by Darwin and Wallace were published in 1858. An arrow leads to the third box, which says that the joint publication presented natural selection to the scientific community. An arrow leads to the fourth box, which says that this prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species in 1859. A final arrow leads to the fifth box, which says that the book provided detailed evidence and made the theory widely known.
    This shows how Wallace's essay led to the joint writings of 1858, which prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species in 1859.

    Put it in order

    Put these steps in the order they happen.

    1. 1. Joint writings by Darwin and Wallace published in 1858
    2. 2. Joint publication presented natural selection to the scientific community
    3. 3. Wallace sent Darwin an essay containing the idea of natural selection
    4. 4. Book provided detailed evidence and made the theory widely known
    5. 5. Prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species in 1859

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Scientific publication

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Impact of On the Origin of Species

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Development of evolutionary theory

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Scientific publication
    The sharing of scientific ideas so that they are checked and made known, as when joint writings were published in 1858.
    Impact of On the Origin of Species
    The book set out the evidence and the mechanism in detail, reaching a wide audience and changing biology.
    Development of evolutionary theory
    The joint writings presented natural selection to the scientific community, and the book made the theory widely known.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 2 boxes numbered instead of named. A flowchart running from top to bottom. The first box says that Wallace sent Darwin an essay containing the idea of natural selection. An arrow leads to the second box, which says that joint writings by Darwin and Wallace were published in 1858. An arrow leads to the third box, which says that the joint publication presented natural selection to the scientific community. An arrow leads to the fourth box, which says that this prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species in 1859. A final arrow leads to the fifth box, which says that the book provided detailed evidence and made the theory widely known.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    0 of 2 labelled

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