...Is Evolution True? Kelius Hardy SCI 115SC October 21, 2013 Kenneth Skena Is Evolution True? Evolution is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary online as a progression of constant change from a plain to a compound state (2013). It is a perspective that different kinds of animals and plants originated from earlier species and have distinctive features because of their adaptation to new environments (Merriam-Webster, 2013). There are different perspectives concerning the origin of evolution and depending on an individual’s particular belief he may agree or disagree with the various viewpoints in existence today. This paper will cover the various viewpoints concerning evolution to include philosophical, theological, and sociological reflections. It will also cover the scientific process of evolution showing my agreement or disagreement with the process. What is Evolution? Organisms or species go through many hereditary changes over an extended period of time (Coyne, 2009). This means that one generation will be different from the other as they continue to evolve through changes in their genetic composition as they adapt to their environment (Coyne, 2009). Another belief concerning evolution is the concept of gradualism, which believes that a change in a species takes place after many generations have evolved, such as the development of birds from reptiles (Coyne, 2009). Speciation, yet another evolutionary concept, has the belief that although species share common traits...
Words: 3111 - Pages: 13
...Evolution Evolution is something that made us human beings today; it had a great impact in our world and made us who we are. Natural selection is something that has to do a lot with evolution. Natural selection defines something, most likely specie that experiences a huge change in characteristics and traits such as looks, movements and the way they live. Adaptation is also something that relates hugely to evolution. Adaptation is when species become comfortable with the environment around them. Adaptation allows them to improve their conditions of living and it permits them to live easier (Sheiner, p. 1106). Natural selection and adaptation are both things that occur in the process of evolution. When species go into the process of evolution they experience both natural selection and adaptation because they go through an amount of characteristically and environmental changes. Evolution, adaptation and natural selection all had major impacts on our world and how it turned out to be today. Without evolution, our world would be completely different, as us humans would not exist. Species are important factors of evolution. By watching “Walking with Cavemen” and reading “Natural Selection” by Scheiner I was able to understand and observe the changes throughout time, and how us humans were created. Species like boisei, ergaster, and afarensis have made impacts on the way we are. We learnt many things from them and adapted to our environment similar to them. In this...
Words: 258 - Pages: 2
...What is evolution? Providing a definition of “evolution” is tricky because the word is used in different ways. First we need to distinguish between the broader worldview some associate with evolution and the scientific theory of evolution. The theory of evolution by natural selection, first formulated in Charles Darwin's book "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, is the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioral traits. Changes that allow an organism to better adapt to its environment will help it survive and have more offspring. The theory of evolution is based on the idea that all species are related and gradually change over time. Evolution relies on there being genetic variation in a population which affects the physical characteristics (phenotype) of an organism. Some of these characteristics may give the individual an advantage over other individuals which they can then pass on to their offspring. Evolution by natural selection is one of the best substantiated theories in the history of science, supported by evidence from a wide variety of scientific disciplines, including paleontology, geology, genetics and...
Words: 1685 - Pages: 7
...Biology Essays 1. The human population reached a new milestone on Oct 31, 2011. How does this impact evolution? Include climate change as one aspect of your response. (Think about Darwin's observations which led him to Natural Selection.) -The first sentence of this question refers to our human population reaching to about 7 billion people. To my knowledge the earth can hold that many people, but on the other hand, if our human population keeps growing, I think that then nature will select (according to Darwin’s observations) due to over-reproduction and our resources being limited. When natural selection comes along there will be a lot of competition, suffering and death so that there can be room for our upcoming population. Climate change can impact the evolution in many ways because of weather intensity such as; droughts, flooding, harsh snow, heat waves and emerging disease that can occur throughout the change which can decrease our human population (death). 3. Explain which parts of evolution are random and which are not random. -According to my notes, evolution is a process, but not a random process. It’s certain things that makes it random. Natural selection is one of those things to make parts of it random. Evolution is determined by ancestors, traits inherited and also what genes are passed. 4. Explain why pseudo genes accumulate mutations more regularly than functional genes. (Include natural selection in your response.) -Pseudogenes accumulating mutations is basically...
Words: 743 - Pages: 3
...ENG121 Evolution vs. Creationism The debate between evolutionism and creationism began thousands of years ago and the battle between the two streams of thought continues to this day. While creationists believe in a god who is the absolute creator of heaven and earth less than 10,000 years ago, evolutionists believe that the universe began billions of years ago with life started as just a single cell bacteria evolving slowly into everything we see today. “What’s the difference between creationism and evolution?” Charles Darwin’s work on evolution is the most recognized throughout history and the evidence that he discovered supporting evolution changed how many people viewed the history of our universe. His main research project was on a process called natural selection, the idea that survival of the fittest has been a main determinant is shaping how the earth and all living things appear today. Charles Darwin discuses this idea of Natural Selection in his essay “Natural Selection”, detailing evidence supporting his theory. This paper will discuss Darwin’s essay but will also go into further detail of his discoveries, other evolutionary milestones and finally comparing and contrasting the evolutionary argument to the creationism point of view. The idea of evolution first came about in the 1600’s when European naturalists started to question the current theories about how our universe was created. In 1666 the first evidence of evolution was discovered when a couple of fishermen...
Words: 2229 - Pages: 9
...Are Modern Humans Still Evolving?In the year eighteen fifty-nine, Charles Darwin published a book which he called “The Origin of Species”. In this book Darwin theorized that populations evolve over the years through a process called natural selection. Darwin realized that in a population, more individuals were born than could possibly survive, he also recognized that the individuals that survived and reproduced were the ones with some sort of competitive advantage over rival animals, therefore they were more likely to pass their useful traits down to their offspring (Darwin, 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...
Words: 3572 - Pages: 15
...|[pic] |Course Syllabus | | |College of Natural Sciences | | |SCI/230 Version 7 | | |Introduction to Life Science | Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course applies a broad, conceptual understanding of biology. Students are introduced to scientific ideologies and concepts that not only shape our biological world, but also shape us as humans. Students examine the scientific method, evolution and biodiversity, the biology of cells, energy systems, the dynamics of inheritance, and the effect humans have on the environment. The text emphasizes methods and the theoretical foundations of ideas, while minimizing isolated facts. It stresses the integration of ideas, making connections that form our understanding of the living world. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies:...
Words: 2438 - Pages: 10
...anthropologist. Darwin and Wallace are highly regarded for their significant contributions to the theories of evolution. It is very important to compare the individual lifestyles, contributions, and beliefs of Darwin and Wallace in order to develop a clear and comprehensive understanding of their concepts of natural selection in evolution. According to Janet Browne (2010) in her biography of Darwin, she describes the similarities in the life experiences of Darwin and Wallace that led them to independently arrive at the theory of natural selection. Both Wallace and Darwin were inspired by the readings such as Charles Lyell and Thomas Malthus. Browne notes that, “Even so, the parallels between Darwin’s and Wallace’s ideas are no less remarkable for their cultural symmetry. Their similarities are further demonstrated by them sharing similar geographical exploration and travel experiences and their mutual appreciations of their marvels of nature and overwhelming desire to comprehend them…” (Browne 2010: 357). The two theorists examined the concepts of natural selection independently until its publication. By the 1958, Darwin had already developed his idea on natural selection but had not published it as he was still collecting more evidence. After his previous research had been destroyed in his journey back to England from Brazilian Amazon, Wallace resumed his research on natural selection while at Archipelago which was marked by his famous “letter to Darwin” that contained an essay discussing...
Words: 2334 - Pages: 10
...theory that emphasizes struggle and competition, and claims that human racial stock improves by allowing ruthless and unrestrained competition in the economic realm. Social Darwinism apples the concepts of biological evolution to social and moral development by stating that it is social evolution through the "survival of the fittest" in a struggle for an existence in which the strong prevail and the weak are defeated. Currently, we use the terms of Darwinism, natural selection, and evolution interchangeably and use them to describe a process which uses random variations, and mutations are preserved through a process of natural competition that favors beneficial changes. A History and Understanding of Social Darwinism The term Darwinism may cause confusion in some people because they confuse Darwinism, the scientific theory, with Social Darwinism, the ethical theory. In truth, except for the name and a few basic principles, the two ideas do not have much in common and has very little to do with Charles Darwin, the English naturalist who famously suggested the scientific theory which states that a branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process he called natural selection. Social Darwinism is a term that started near the end of the nineteenth century and describes a set of social policies and theories designed to reduce the power of government with theories that attempt to explain the biological cause of human behavior. For the majority of the population this term has a negative...
Words: 3138 - Pages: 13
...Animal captivity is the case in which animals live under human care. Animals in captivity do not have as much freedom as those in the wild. Animal captivity is common in farms, private homes, zoos and laboratories. These places domesticate the animals either for sentimental or scientific reasons. In short, animals should not be kept in captivity because it is morally wrong and alters the evolution process of natural selection. Animal captivity is morally wrong. All animals, including humans, exist with their own evolutionary motives to reproduce and prosper. Humans should not interfere with this process by taking animals out of their natural habitat. When they are domesticated, it is also much more likely to be cruel to them. For example,...
Words: 413 - Pages: 2
...Generally regarded as the most prominent of the nineteenth-century evolutionary theorists, Charles Darwin is primarily known for his, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, the publication of which in 1859 ushered in a new era of naturalistic thinking that was to influence not only the field of biological science, but also the disciplines of art, literature, philosophy, and theology”(2). In the work Darwin identified genetic mutation and natural selection as the mechanisms that controlled the development of species. His theory introduced the concept of ever-present competitive struggle in nature, “There by decentering the commonly held Romantic view of nature as a benign, even benevolent force, and pushed the role of God to the margins of human existence on earth”(2). Although one of many contributors to the field of evolutionary biology, Darwin is commonly associated with the popular acceptance of evolutionary theory, and his Origin is believed to be the impetus for an intellectual revolution as philosophers, social scientists, and writers began to explore the far reaching implications of his theory, which posed a serious challenge to the orthodoxy of Victorian religion, science, and philosophy. Darwin wrote several books on a range of scientific topics, including botany, zoology, and geology. “Among his earliest works, the Journal of Researches is as much a travelogue as a book on science...
Words: 753 - Pages: 4
...Is Evolution True? Alden Vasquez EVOLUTION – Your Inner Fish Professor Michael Wilder 16 August 2015 Is Evolution True? I’m a raised catholic brought up in the faith that God created all heaven and earth, and on earth he placed us (humans) created perfect as His reflection. To add more skepticism about evolution, I’m pursuing a degree in finance/accounting subjects that have nothing to do with biology, science, or geology. Then why did I take this class you might ask? An easy answer will be that my student advisor recommended it and I didn’t think about it and just enrolled in it; but I look at things differently and always trying to find the positive side, I believe that it was meant for me to take this class, I needed to be exposed out of my comfort zone to a subject that if it wouldn’t have been this way I would have probably remained ignorant all my life. With that being said, I will venture on this essay to explain what I’ve learned about evolution, talk about evidence that we have found on the rocks including documented changes through the evolution of species like vestiges, embryos and bad designs. I will talk about the engine of evolution, given that some variations are heritable and that they can be passed from parents to offspring in the process of reproduction, including evolution by natural selection. While talking about reproduction, I’ll explain how sex drives evolution going back to the origin of species and ending in the present time with...
Words: 3156 - Pages: 13
...Midterm 1 Notes * Anthropological Approaches to Understanding Evolution * What is Anthropology? * the study of culture * the study of humans * the study of humans and human behavior * the study of culture among different people and places * the study of global cultures and the comparisons between the various differences * It incorporate culture, including language, social practice, religion, etc. * the study of culture…it can be scientific, humanistic and based on observation * the study of humans in all parts of the world…it combines several fields into a holistic view * the study of humankind in all time and places * Anthropology is: 1. A Social Science * Academic discipline concerned with society and the relationships among individuals within a society, which often reply primarily on empirical approaches 2. Studies Culture * Culture is composed of ideas, values and perceptions * Culture is not instinctual, it must be learned and shared * Culture only exists within a society or group of people * Culture is a human adaptation to their environment 3. Holistic * The various parts of human culture and biology must be viewed in the broadest possible context in order to understand their interconnections and interdependence * Cultural Anthropology * The study of patterns of human behavior, thought and emotions, focusing on humans as culture-producing and culture-reproducing creatures ...
Words: 2977 - Pages: 12
...Session 1.3: The Evolution of Cellular Life Exam review view in a separate window In this session we focus on the natural history of cells and the evolutionary timelines of their appearance. The modern phylogenetic classification of domains is used to categorize the different types of cells: bacteria, archea, and eukarya. The names of periods and organisms and certain dates are often helpful in remembering or understanding events that occur in the natural history of evolution. However, we do not expect you to know the names of all organisms mentioned nor all dates (you may find some of the sound attachments on complicated figures useful for review). Those names and dates mentioned below are the ones to key on. The focus in this session is macroevolution which looks broadly at the time lines and changes over long intervals of time. Remember that small changes over millions of years are the framework for evolving complexity from simplicity. Summary of concepts and idea An initial step in covering this material is an understanding of the different types of cells (prokaryotic, eukaryotic animal and plant), their differences, and their place in the phylogeny of life. 1. Information from pre-class reading, Bioflix animations and briefly summarized in class discusses the fundamental components of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. You need to know the differences and understand the basic functions of the cellular components as cells as they are the fundamental...
Words: 4923 - Pages: 20
...“Evolution by natural selection is now replaced by evolution through human intervention.” Evolution has been one of the big topics on the science part of the world. Through years, there has been many debates on not the idea of evolution but by which process(es) it undergoes. There is the natural and artificial selections. I take I have enough knowledge to distinguish both sides of the argument and to take my stand which would be somewhere right in the middle, leaning more on the natural selection side. It is quite easy for me to choose between artificial and natural. Although I am aware that in this generation, we are exposed to such artificial choices which prove to be of much more convenience to the majority, I still believe that natural is always the best way. Natural is more real and original. In a much more abstract sense, natural provides more meaning. It is pretty much a fight between ‘what things can be but not necessarily should be’ and ‘what things are really in the first place’. On the talk of evolution, natural selection gives the same general sense and feeling. It’s basically how the cycle goes, without intentions and preferences. Human intervention, with the military sense included, has force. The choice is created, not given, to a man. Cloning has been disliked by so many simply because it is against the ideals of humanity. It is considered a shortcut or even cheating life. It is too easy therefore it gives fear and prejudice amongst the majority, especially the...
Words: 593 - Pages: 3
