...The scientific community accepts that modern humans were brought about by evolution. The evolution one usually considers when discussing the rise of modern humans is biological, or genetic, evolution. Cultural evolution, however, has been equally as important. The objective of this paper is to look broadly at the biological and cultural evolutionary trends that have led humans to modern times. This essay will show that the manipulation of our environment for our benefit, and usually its detriment, is evolutionary. The human story begins when the common ancestor we share with chimps stood up. While chimps and gorillas may also stand on two feet, they spend most of their time of all four (Diamond 1992). The remains of our ancestor, which...
Words: 1601 - Pages: 7
...being taught in schools. Although we are known as a Christian country, religious ideas in public places are frowned upon or replaced. Now, scientific theories- evolution and the big bang- are being taught as fact to students across the nation. This is a growing problem because evolution is not a fact, only a weak theory based on misinterpreted evidence. There are two types of evolution being taught. One type, also known as natural selection or species adaptation, is when specific changes occur in one species. According to Roger Patterson, author of Evolution Exposed, natural selection is how a species changes, or evolves, in short periods of time. For example, one breed of dog evolved slightly to create the many different breeds of dogs we have now. This makes sense. Why? All dogs are similar to each other. You could say the same for birds, fish, cats, or any other animal. However, the theory of evolution says every living thing on the earth- plants, humans, animals and microscopic organisms- originated from only one organism. This is unrealistic. Natural selection can be tested and observed. On the other hand, the theory of evolution should not be taught as logical, evident factual information because it has not been scientifically proven as most of the non-Christian scientific world would tell you. Along with evolution, a theory for the origin of life, we have the Big Bang Theory, a theory for the origin of our universe. According to Dr. Jason Lisle, author of The Ultimate...
Words: 671 - Pages: 3
...Search for Evolutionary Proof Arjumand Parham Sci 115 7/24/12 Dr. Freeman Search for Evolutionary Proof “Our ability to grasp, to build, and make out thoughts real lie inside this complex system of bones, nerves and vessels.” –Neil Shubin These things would only be possible through evolution. Evolution is any process of formation or growth and development, without it we wouldn’t be here today. Evolution though only an theory has an massive backing within the science community; many fossils, scientist and scientific studies have all but proved evolution indefinitely. The proof for evolution is massive and profound; fossils and carbon dating are absolute proof that creatures very similar to us not only lived but were evolving and walking around. African hominids such as the bipedal Australopithecus afarensis or “Lucy” are some of the most profound examples of evolutionary history. Unlike a common monkey Lucy was a bipedal specimen which meant she walked upright much like an human. What makes her such an amazing discovery is the fact that she was about three-million to almost four-million years old. Scientist from every side of the spectrum have gathered to try to make this theory fact. Neil Shubin paleontologist and archeologist said” We were not designed rationally, but are products of a convoluted history”. The history of the human body is convoluted in every sense of the word; there are approximately three-billion-five-hundred-million years of history in the human...
Words: 447 - Pages: 2
...*Q: What is Evolution? - Descent from modification * Macro Evolution (Large Scale Evolution) * Common Ancestor - descent of different species over many generations * OVER LARGER TIMESCALE (ex. Speciation) * Micro Evolution (Small Scale Evolution) * Changes in gene (allele) frequency in population from one generation to the next * May be over shorter time period (generations) * BOTH OF THESE IMPLY: * 1. Common Ancestry * 2. Changes through time *Natural selection occurs when 3 conditions are met; results in evolution * 1. There is variation in a trait * (Ex. Beetle color) * 2. The trait is heritable * (Ex. Brown beetles tends to have brown babies) * 3. There is differential reproductive success, and not all individuals reproduce to their full potential * (Ex. Green beetles are selected against by natural and Brown beetles are selected for- so they reproduce more) *Adaption: A trait that increases the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce compared with individuals without the trait Adaption in an evolutionary context: An inherited trait that makes an organism more fit in its abiotic and biotic environment, and that has arisen as a result of the direct action of natural selection for its primary function. Ex. Mimicry of the non-toxic king snake to evade predators Natural selection leads to Adaptions * Adjustments or changes In behavior, physiology...
Words: 4620 - Pages: 19
...ION * PART A. Examine the mechanisms of evolution. * Evolution is the process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient ancestors (Evolution, N.D.) The four mechanisms that allow evolution to take place are genetic drift, gene flow, mutations, and natural selection. All of these mechanisms happen naturally and are necessary for evolution to take place. Genetic drift is the random change in gene or allele frequency with which an allele variation occurs in a small population. Genetic drift is simple change. Two different genetic drifts that can change the size of a population are the bottleneck effect and the founder effect (Campbell, Reece and Simon, 2004). The bottleneck effect occurs during drastic changes in an alleles population causing the population to have some alleles that may be underrepresented or eliminated completely (Campbell, Reece and Simon, 2004). Chance may affect the alleles population for generations until the population will become large enough to allow sampling errors to be considered insignificant (Campbell, Reece and Simon, 2004). Genetic drift in a new colony is called the founder effect (Campbell, Reece and Simon, 2004). It is likely to occur when a few individuals colonize an isolated area (Campbell, Reece and Simon, 2004). When a colony migrates away from a larger population its gene pool becomes least representative of the larger colony it migrated from (Campbell, Reece and Simon, 2004). Gene flow is the genetic exchange of another...
Words: 661 - Pages: 3
...Evolution Abstract One paragraph… The discussion on the origin and fate of the universe continues to revolve around creationists and evolutionary ideas, though creationism positions arise mainly of religion and philosophy, while the evolution is postulated mainly from science. One wonders if possible convergence in these fields in the discussion, that is, if you can address both creationism and evolutionism from science, philosophy and religion. Theory of Evolution In science the theory of evolution explains the huge variety of life arising by postulating a process of transformation through changes in genes that lead to new adaptations to the environment. By studying the genetic structure of living beings is a verifiable fact that they are related to each other and, therefore, aims to have a common origin as the emergence of new species due to the accumulation of changes that do diverge and take different paths to adaptation to the environment. In the scientific world, biological evolution represents the interpretative key of the living world. Life began about 3500 makes 4000 million years in the form of single-celled organisms without nuclei and took about two billion years to produce the first eukaryotes (unicellular organisms with nuclei), so the start was given very slowly. However, in evolutionary history there are times with a high evolutionary rate as the Cambrian period (540 to 520 million years, they were many forms of multicellular life). They also appeared...
Words: 2014 - Pages: 9
...The beginning of the earth has been a mystery, boggling the minds of the erudite and the simple minded alike for years. The topic of creation vs. evolution has become increasingly controversial. In biology, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is a change in the genetic material of a population of organisms from one generation to the next. Though changes produced in any one generation are normally small, differences accumulate with each generation and can, over time, become substantial changes in the population. Such similarities among species suggest that all known species are descended from a common ancestor (or ancestral gene pools process of gradual divergence). Evolution is supported in many different ways, but one major category pointing to its validity is fossils. Through fossil dating, hominoid fossils, and, evolution has become the theory accepted by the majority of those in the scientific forefront. Evolution is supported through fossil records. The study of the sequence of occurrence in rocks reveals the relative time in which organisms lived. This technique shows that one layer of rock is older or younger than another. Later through the discovery of radioactivity, scientists were given the opportunity to learn the age of fossils and rocks . Through these records, a vague timeline is illustrated of the evolutionary change that has been occurring over the past four billion years. This proves that the earth is much older then creationist would like to argue. A popular criticism...
Words: 651 - Pages: 3
...The theory of evolution, formalized by Charles Darwin, is as much theory as is the theory of gravity, or the theory of relativity. Unlike theories of physics, biological theories, and especially evolution, have been argued long and hard in socio-political arenas. Even today, evolution is not often taught in primary schools. However, evolution is the binding force of all biological research. It is the unifying theme. In paleontology, evolution gives workers a powerful way to organize the remains of past life and better understand the one history of life. The history of thought about evolution in general and paleontological contributions specifically are often useful to the workers of today. Science, like any iterative process, draws heavily from its history. It is a FACT that the earth with liquid water, is more than 3.6 billion years old. It is a FACT that cellular life has been around for at least half of that period and that organized multicellular life is at least 800 million years old. It is a FACT that major life forms now on earth were not at all represented in the past. There were no birds or mammals 250 million years ago. It is a FACT that major life forms of the past are no longer living. There used to be dinosaurs and Pithecanthropus, and there are none now. It is a FACT that all living forms come from previous living forms. Therefore, all present forms of life arose from ancestral forms that were different. Birds arose from nonbirds and humans from nonhumans. No person...
Words: 1218 - Pages: 5
...The past and also modern day paradigms associated with the field of biology are generally uniquely placed by the idea associated with development. Obviously, the development can be acknowledged with uniting biological fields such as paleontology, inherited genes and also microbiology. Moreover, development provides an elaborate justification for the lifetime of the Earth’s huge diversity plus the origins of the above five thousand types associated with plant and also animal life. For this stop, development can be particularly discussed by simply several theories. Obviously, the pre Darwinian advocates such as John Usher sophisticated the creationism type associated with development (Ruse & Travis, 2009). Your formation idea associated with development theorized how the limitless life types within the Soil had been manufactured by The almighty. Moreover, the formation idea can be of the viewpoint that each life types include remained unchanged given that formation. Thus, high of the seventeenth and also eighteenth one hundred year the field of biology in The european union dedicated to the outline associated with animals and also crops with no justification on what they reached currently being. Carolus Linnaeus can be hailed like a top notch scientist whom created the category system pertaining to figuring out existing items. For this stop, Linnaeus recognized animals and also crops determined by modalities associated with imitation and also looks. Obviously, Linnaeus utilised...
Words: 1177 - Pages: 5
...Evidence of Evolution Introduction: Evolution is usually defined as the change over time in one or more inherited traits found in populations of organisms. Inherited traits are particular distinguishing characteristics. Evolution may occur when there is variation of inherited traits within a population. The major sources of such variation are mutation, genetic recombination and gene flow. This process has produced all the diversity of living organisms. Charles Darwin characterized the result as endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful. It has always been debated if there is any evidence of evolution and in what fields, in this report we will give a brief summary concerning: • DNA Evidence of Evolution • Biological Evidence of Evolution DNA Evidence of Evolution: DNA molecules are complex molecules which contain the assembly instructions for every living creature. Certain aspects of DNA have been interpreted as evidence for Darwinian evolution. DNA evidence for evolution includes mutations, genetic similarities among species, so-called “Junk DNA” and “Pseudogenes.” The fact that mutations can corrupt DNA is important for the Darwinian paradigm because in order for an organism to eventually evolve into an entirely different organism, changes must be made to the creature’s genome over time. But Darwinian evolution needs more than just change. It needs an increase in genetic information. Critics point out that genetic mutation does not appear to provide a...
Words: 1011 - Pages: 5
...Tanner Pardue #16 Video 1 essay: Is it correct to say the evolution is just a theory? Is Gravity just a theory? Many people would argue about weather Evolution is a fact or theory. There are certain characteristics that make a theory a theory and a fact a fact. A theory is something that is thought to have happened or why something happens etc. but a theory is something that hasn’t been proven. When someone’s theory is proven it is considered a fact. So with knowing this I must agree that Evolution is just a theory because there is no complete proof or evidence to prove support or back up the theory of evolution. Therefore due to the definition of a fact and theory evolution must be a theory. Too me Gravity is not a theory. I believe this because gravity has laws; each law explains how gravity works. When these laws are tested in both environments with and without gravity the laws are proven to be true and work. Therefore due to the definition of a Fact in my personal opinion gravity would be a fact since the laws of it can be proven to be true. Video 2 essay: Why was Darwin considered to be a “revolutionary”? Charles Darwin is one of the most famous biologists in history. With a Theory called Natural selection he helped prove that biology makes since and how all species evolve to be designed how they are over time. As he studied the Galapagos Islands off South America he observed many different species of animals. He looked at how they reacted around each...
Words: 1535 - Pages: 7
...Evolution is the process that living organisms can change and adapt over long periods of time. Unfortunately, not everyone believes in the Theory of Evolution. There are people who believe that the almighty God created the earth and all living creatures. Charles Darwin was the first person in the 19th Century to come up with justifiable evidence of evolution. He got his evidence from doing a study on finches from the Galapagos Islands. He noticed there were thirteen different species and they all had different beaks due to their diets. From this study, he had come up with the thought of natural selection; the process which the strongest survive. Darwin and many other evolutionists have found much more evidence of evolution. This is why evolution is the best explanation for different forms and adaptations of all living things. Darwin’s team traveled to every one of the Galapagos Islands to see the many different species of finches, thirteen in fact. Natural selection has occurred so the finches can survive. The finches’ beaks have adapted to accounts for the variation in their diets. Peter R. Grant states on page 502, “These various food types are exploited in different ways that depend on beak morphology.” We wouldn’t see all the different variations in species without natural selection. Early embryos are another piece of evidence to prove evolution takes place. By looking at the embryos of several different species you can see that there is some connection between species...
Words: 392 - Pages: 2
...Charles Darwin & Evolution Life Work Evolution Pre Darwinian ideas Variation Natural Selection Sexual Selection Speciation Human evolution The Response to Darwin What about Wallace? Impact Updating Darwin Case Studies Applications Darwin & Cambridge Today For Kids For Teachers Natural Selection Natural selection is Darwin’s most famous theory; it states that evolutionary change comes through the production of variation in each generation and differential survival of individuals with different combinations of these variable characters. Individuals with characteristics which increase their probability of survival will have more opportunities to reproduce and their offspring will also benefit from the heritable, advantageous character. So over time these variants will spread through the population. Natural selection in the evolutionary framework: For natural selection to work, it has to occur along with a bunch of other things. Historians and biologists who have analysed Darwin’s work, for example Ernst Mayr, have identified five theories which Darwin outlined in On the Origin of Species, and which work together to bring about evolution. Darwin’s five theories were: 1. Evolution: species come and go through time, while they exist they change. 2. Common descent: organisms are descended from one, or several common ancestors and have diversified from this original stock 3. Species multiply: the diversification of life involves populations of one species diverging until...
Words: 1216 - Pages: 5
...Echinoderms are one of the most highly derived groups of animals with many species as significant components of several marine communities. They’re classified by three fundamental shared characteristics: 1) pentaradial symmetry, 2) skeleton made of three-dimensional calcitic elements, and 3) the presence of a water vascular system with an external opening. This water-vascular system (WVS), in particular, remains a unique application of a hydraulic system, generating pressure gradients that are able to command hundreds of tiny, adorable tube feet to crawl over uneven surfaces and feeding on tough shelled prey like mussels. The basic components of the WVS in non-crinoid echinoderms (below) include a circumoral ring canal with five radial canals extending from off of it. Also attached to the ring canal is the madreporite, which acts as a door between the external environment of the sea and the internal environment of the echinoderm. The madreporite, named after its resemblance to the Madreporaria coral (meaning “mother of the pores”), is lined with cells that beat tail-like flagella in a variety of directions.The fluid inside the WVS is similar to seawater in composition but contains up to 60% more potassium ions, slightly higher concentrations of chloride ions, and freely floating albuminous protein. Sea cucumbers have also been found to have red blood cells in their WVS. Each radial canal has serially repeating pairs of shorter canals that attach to the tube feet, which are operated...
Words: 1424 - Pages: 6
...1859). As this process of natural selection occurred for millions of years, these desirable traits that were once only prevalent in a few individual animals became common traits for entire species (Winston, 2009). There are countless amounts of evidence that suggest that humans owe their existence to evolution, however, many people are skeptical as to whether or not it is still occurring, and whether or not it is happening in the same way. Some scientists hold that the human race has reached “its biological pinnacle and is no longer capable of changing” (McKie, 2005, ¶1). Alternatively, some experts believe that humans are evolving faster than ever (Sample, 2007), and others believe it is still happening, just on different terms. There has not been any deciding evidence as to whether or not humans are still evolving, however, saying it isn’t happening is a very difficult position to defend. Gene mutations happen at random so saying that humans will never undergo any more evolutionary changes seems very unlikely (Douglas, 2006). Many scientists and evolutionists believe that the complexion of modern society is changing the means by which natural selection and, consequentially, evolution is occurring. The evolutionary trait of an advanced brain is what defines us as humans; ironically that same...
Words: 3572 - Pages: 15
