The Theory of Evolution
The theory of evolution is founded on the assumption that certain traits are transmitted more often than others. These traits allow individuals to survive and reproduce which is why they tend to increase in numbers over time.
Scientists understand now how this process operates. A study of the clawed frog has revealed that duplicate genes can perform different purposes.
Evolution is an organic process
Natural selection is the process that results in organisms changing to be better at adapting to the environment they reside in. It is one of the major processes of evolution that is accompanied by mutations, migrations, and genetic drift. People with traits that facilitate survival and reproduction will be more likely to pass on these traits to their children. This results in gradual changes in the gene frequency over time. This can lead to the development of new species and the transformation of existing ones.
Charles Darwin developed a scientific theory in the early 19th century that explains how the evolution of organisms has occurred over time. The theory is based on the concept that more offspring are born than are able to survive, and that these offspring compete with each other for resources in their physical environment. This results in an "evolutionary struggle" in which those who have the best traits win, while others are eliminated. The offspring that survives transmit these genes to their children. This gives them an advantage over the other species. Over time, organisms with these advantageous traits increase in number.
It is, however, difficult to understand the mechanism by which natural selection can produce new traits when its primary purpose is to eliminate inequities individuals. Additionally, the majority of types of natural selection eliminate genetic variation within populations. Natural selection is unlikely to produce new traits without the involvement of other forces.
Mutation, drift genetic and migration are three main evolutionary forces that alter gene frequencies. These processes are accelerated by sexual reproduction and the fact that each parent transmits half of its genes to their offspring. These genes are known as alleles, and they may have different frequencies among individuals belonging to the same species. The frequencies of the alleles that result determine whether the trait is dominant or recessive.
In the simplest terms, a mutation is an alteration in the DNA structure of an organism's code. This change causes certain cells to grow, develop and become a distinct organism while others don't. Mutations can also increase the frequency of existing alleles or create new alleles. The new alleles are then passed to the next generation and eventually become dominant phenotypes.
Evolution is dependent on natural selection
Natural selection is a simple mechanism that causes the populations of living things to change over time. It is a result of the interaction between heritable phenotypic variation and differential reproduction. These elements create a situation that people with beneficial traits live longer and reproduce more frequently than those without them. Over time this process can lead to changes in the gene pool, making it more closely aligned with the environment in which people live. Darwin's "survival-of-the most fittest" is an underlying concept.
This is based on the notion that people adapt to their environment by displaying various traits. Adaptive traits increase the likelihood of individuals to live and reproduce, as well as produce a lot of offspring. In the long run, this will cause the trait to spread across a population according to BioMed Central. In the end, the trait will be present in all of the members of a group, and the population's composition will change. This is known as evolution.
Those with less adaptive traits are likely to die or will not be able to produce offspring, and their genes won't make it to future generations. In time genetically altered organisms are likely to become dominant in the population. They may also develop into new species. It is not a sure thing. The environment can change suddenly, making the adaptations obsolete.
Another factor that can influence the course of evolution is sexual selection, in which certain traits are chosen because they increase a person's chance of mating with others. This can result in some bizarre phenotypes, such as brightly colored feathers on birds, or large antlers on deer. These phenotypes aren't useful to the organism but they can boost the chances of survival and reproducing.
Another reason why some students do not understand natural selection is because they mistake it for soft inheritance. While soft inheritance is not required for evolution, it can be an essential element of it. This is because soft inheritance allows for random modifications of DNA, and the creation of genetic variants which are not immediately beneficial to the organism. These mutations are then used as raw material by natural selection.
Genetics is the foundation of evolution
Evolution is a natural process that causes changes in the traits inherited of a species over time. It is influenced by a variety of factors, including mutation and genetic drift, gene flow, and horizontal gene transfer. The relative frequency of alleles within a group can influence the development. This allows the selection of traits that are advantageous in the new environment. The theory of evolution is a fundamental idea in biology that has profound implications on our understanding of life.
Darwin's ideas, combined with Linnaeus' concepts of relational ties and Lamarck's theories on inheritance, transformed the idea of how traits are passed from parents to their offspring. Darwin believed that parents passed on traits that they inherited by their choice or lack of use but they were also either favored or disfavored by the environment they lived in, and passed the information to their offspring. Darwin called this natural selection and in his book The Origin of Species he explained how this could lead the evolution of new species of species.
Genetic changes, or mutations, occur randomly in the DNA of cells. These mutations cause a wide range of characteristics phenotypically related to hair color and eye color. They can also be affected by environmental factors. Certain phenotypic traits can be controlled by multiple genes, and some possess more than two alleles, such as blood type (A B, A, or O). The combination of Darwinian ideas about evolution with Mendel's theories about genetics is known as the Modern Synthesis, and it is the framework that brings together macroevolutionary changes in fossil records along with microevolutionary processes, such as genetic mutation and the selection of traits.
Macroevolution is a process that is extremely long and is only visible in fossil records. Microevolution however is a process which is more rapid and is visible in living organisms. Microevolution is triggered by genetic mutation and selection, which act on a smaller scale than macroevolution. However, it can be enhanced by other mechanisms, such as gene flow and horizontal gene transfer.
Evolution is based upon chance
Evolution ists have long used the argument that evolution is random. However, this argument is flawed and it is important to know the reasons. For one thing, the argument confuses randomness with contingency. This mistake is a result of an incorrect understanding of the nature of biological contingency as explained by Stephen Jay Gould. He claimed that genetic information doesn't grow in a random manner, but is dependent on previous events. He based his argument on the fact that DNA is an exact copy of genes, which are dependent on other molecules. Every biological process follows a causal sequence.
The argument is further flawed due to its reliance on the laws of physics and practice of science. These assertions aren't just logically untenable however, they are also untrue. The science of practice assumes that causal determinism is not sufficient to accurately predict all natural events.
Brendan Sweetman's book is an attempt to give a balanced and readable introduction to the relationship of evolutionary theory and Christian theology. He is not a flashy author, but a thoughtful one, which suits his objectives that include separating the scientific status from the implications for religion from evolutionary theory.
While the book isn't as comprehensive as it could have been however, it provides an excellent overview of the key issues in this debate. It also clarifies that evolutionary theories are well-substantiated, widely accepted and suitable for rational approval. However, the book is less than persuasive on the issue of whether God plays any part in evolution.
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