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Evolution
The scientific theory according to which populations change gradually through a process of natural selection.
5,264 Questions
What are the Theories of Charles Darwin?
Charles Darwin is known for his theory of evolution through natural selection, which suggests that species evolve over time through the process of adapting to their environment. He also proposed the theory of common descent, stating that all living organisms are related and share a common ancestor. Additionally, Darwin's theory of sexual selection explains how certain traits can be favored in mate selection and lead to evolutionary changes.
Answer 1
Current thinking is that humans and apes evolved from a common ancestor and scientists are getting closer and closer to telling us that story of our origins.
On October 9, 2009 scientists announced the discovery of the oldest fossil skeleton of a human ancestor to date. It has taken the spotlight off "Lucy", who walked the earth 3.2 million years ago. The discovery was made in Ethiopia. Researchers say it will put to rest the earlier hypothesis of a "missing link" ape that would be found "at the root of the human family tree". The skeleton offers a basis for researchers of what the common ancestor of apes and humans might have been like. There have been astounding archeological discoveries in the last decade that have enabled evolutionists to discard older suppositions and add more information to the story of evolution.
On May 7, 2010 scientists announced they had documented the Neanderthal genome and revealed some interesting facts. We have traces of Neanderthal DNA in our DNA, proving that earlier ancestors assimilated with other early humans.
The study of human evolution is not static. It is going on every day at universities and archeological sights around the world. As new information is discovered the story becomes more accurate. Anyone who can ignore the abundant results of that research is missing out on a treasure trove of interesting information about where we came from.
In 2012 scientists completed the genome of the bonobo, an African ape. When added to the genomes that have already been completed for orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees we now have a complete DNA catalogue of the great apes. The studies show that humans are most closely related to bonobos and chimpanzees. The three are more closely related to each other than any is to gorillas.
Answer 2
In addition to the previous answer, it should be noted that according to classical Linnaean taxonomy and modern cladistics, humans are apes. And since we share that distinction with a number of other species, it must therefore logically be true that the ancestors we and those other species of ape evolved from was also an ape.
This does not mean that they were any species of modern ape, of course. Modern species of ape are derived from the basal clade of apes.
Who did Charles Darwin work with?
Charles Darwin collaborated with many scientists and researchers during his career, including Joseph Hooker, Alfred Russel Wallace, and Thomas Huxley. He corresponded extensively with various individuals to discuss his ideas and findings related to evolutionary theory.
Can the Theory of Evolution explain Human properties?
Many of the properties of modern humans can be explained through biology. For instance, most physiological traits, such as the shape of the skeleton, the route that the major arteries and nerves follow throughout the body, blood types, and so on, and so forth, can be explained in terms of common ancestry with the other Great Apes.
When it comes to behaviour, however, humans are a more complicated case. This is because our behaviour, as well as the way our behaviour has changed over time, is not just a matter of nature (genetics), but also of nurture (culture). Usually, it is difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins - they may even affect one another on occasion.
As an example, take morality. We Apes, being social animals living in tribes, have evolved elaborate instinctive codes of conduct (moral codes) to deal with the complexities of intra-tribal and inter-tribal relations. But in humans, with their big brains, these instinctive morals are expanded upon (and sometimes counteracted) by conscious reflection. Our morals are not just affected by the genes we inherit from our parents, but also by the ideas we inherit from relatives and society in general. We may, for instance, feel instinctively predisposed to act in ways benefiting our tribe. But what we consider to be our tribe (eg. just the family, or the village, or the country, or perhaps even the entire human species) may be largely determined through cultural induction.
Answer 2
Man and the apes have developed from the same ancestors, although the main differences between them are man's larger brain and his ability to walk upright and speak.
The process by which modern man developed from his early ancestors is called Evolution. Through fossils, very old bones preserved in layers of rock, we can imagine how man developed and changed from an ape-like creature to modern man, over a period of several hundred thousand years. Until recently, the oldest man-like fossil anyone had discovered was called Australopithecus, about 1,750,000 years old. Then, in 1972, Dr. Richard Leekey found a fossil skull in Kenya that had a much larger brain than the Australopithecus. This fossil was about 2,600,000 years old.
Several other fossils have been found which look more like a modern man. One of these, called Pithecanthropus, was very like us although he had jutting-out ridges over his eyes and some ape-like features. Other remains such as Java man and Peking man are called Homo erectus. All the known fossils in this group are at least 400,000 years old, and from this creature, several types of man seem have developed. One was Neanderthal man, who looked very primitive with his thick, stocky body and jutting eye ridges, but he did have a large brain. The Neanderthals used stone tools and buried their dead. They lived in Europe about 35,000 years ago, when men just like ourselves replaced them. This change happened too quickly for modern man to have developed from Neanderthal man, so he must have evolved separately. We call modern man Homo sapiens ('Thinking man').
Some of the earliest fossils of Homo sapiens are over 100,000 years old. Among the most famous are the fossils found at Cro-Magnon in France. These early men lived in caves which they decorated with drawings, so they were the first known artist.
All modern men are placed in the family of Homo sapiens. Howerever, because some people have similar features , they are often divided into groups, or races. These groups are usually: the Caucasoid (white-skinned); Negroid (black-skinned); Mongoloid (yellow-skinned and including the American Indians); Australoid (the Australian Aborigines); and Capoid ( the bushmen of South Africa).
Race is often confused with nationality, the nation a person belongs to. But the people of any one country are often descended from many races so race is much wider description that nationality.
Caucasoid
The Englishman, Italian and Indian are Caucasians. This racial group is widespread in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and India, and they have skin colours ranging from fair to dark.
Australoid
Although they have different facial characteristic and features, the Mbotgote man from Malekula Island, the Fijian and the Australian Aborigine are all Australoid peoples with dark skins.
Mongoloid
With their yellowish skin, dark brown eyes and straight black hair the Eskimo, Burmese man and Chinese are all Mongoloids.
Other opinions
Many scientists do not believe that the Darwin theory of evolution explains everything about the evolution of humans. First of all, Alfred Russel Wallace (the man who FIRST published the theory of evolution before Darwin) in his publication 'The Limits of Natural Selection as Applied to Man', Alfred Russel Wallace argues that human morality, altruism, higher intellectual etc have been the result of an intelligent designer. Nowadays many modern scientists believe the same thing.
For example, primitive people have a brain that is the same as our own, that they are not at all using in their everyday tasks. Why would that happen? The Darwin theory of evolution cannot answer that.
Moreover, why do people do altruistic actions (i.e. risk their own existence/lives to save an unknown person and do not expect to get any recognition or reward for that), if the 'survival of the fittest' model applies?
The controversy is ongoing. The book 'Dissent Over Descent' of Steve Fuller offers great insight into the matter. Wallace publication came before Darwin's and as in most cases, the second does explain evolution better than the first.
Steve Fuller is a religious creationist.
Lamarck's theory of evolution, known as Lamarckism, proposed that acquired characteristics could be passed down to offspring. This idea suggested that organisms could develop new traits during their lifetime and then pass them on to their offspring. However, this theory has been largely discredited in favor of Darwin's theory of natural selection, which emphasizes the role of genetic variation and environmental factors in driving evolutionary change.
What is Atomic theory of evolution of human?
Atomic theory is a theory about the nature of matter and related phenomena (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_theory). The evolution of Humans is not strongly related (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_evolution)
What is the Christian position on the teaching of evolution in schools?
There is no single take, but I'd like to present an argument for a more enlightened approach to the problem this conflict of perception presents.
A group view is often a perception created by mass media for the general public's consumption of news information. In the case of evolution instruction in public education, the news media perception is that Christians outrightly reject evolution and have recently promoted "intelligent design" as a viable option. But, of course, you can find many different views within the Christian community on this subject for which the news media hasn't enough time to present. For economic reasons the mass media must condense information, and the result is very often a perception that opposing viewpoints have no common ground. For example, one can easily conclude that a Theologian can't accept evolution, or that a Scientist can't believe in God, because of how the public's access to information is presented in the media. This phenomenom is compounded by each group's defensive reaction to overly simplistic news reporting which causes unnecessary partisanship. The affected parties begin to construct borders and man them with thought police.
My answer to your question, "What is the Christianity take on the teaching of evolution in schools?", is based on the presumption you mean taxpayer funded education. The teaching of evolution theory in taxpayer funded education should be held to the same standard as teaching mathematics, for example. That is, since most of the taxpaying public can agree that 1+1=2, mathematics has no problem with the people who pay for its teaching (except for when little Johnny is given a pass if he thinks 1+1=3 because we shouldn't hurt his feelings). My point is that education funded by a broad base of taxpayers should reflect broadly accepted consensus views, such as 1+1=2. And my contention, along with many other Christians, is that the theory of evolution is not presented to public school children with all of its problems. It seems that the scientific community has decided that since good Science cannot be guided by a belief in God, which I agree with, and since evolution theory is their best explanation of life's origins, they conclude that it is the best explanation, although ironically, this position seems to require as much faith as believing in God. That evolution theory's flaws are avoided when educating children is the fault of your local and national educators and the people they represent, that is, you.
AnswerIt depends on which Christian Denomination. Some denomination reject the story of Creation as Literal; the Catholics for example.And some will adhere that the story of Creation is literal;
ex; At the Reformation the vast authority of Luther was thrown in favour of the literal acceptance of Scripture as the main source of natural science. The allegorical and mystical interpretations of earlier theologians he utterly rejected. "Why," he asks, "should Moses use allegory when he is not speaking of allegorical creatures or of an allegorical world, but of real creatures and of a visible world, which can be seen, felt, and grasped? Moses calls things by their right names, as we ought to do....I hold that the animals took their being at once upon the word of God, as did also the fishes in the sea."
Not less explicit in his adherence to the literal account of creation given in Genesis was Calvin. He warns those who, by taking another view than his own, "basely insult the Creator, to expect a judge who will annihilate them." He insists that all species of animals were created in six days, each made up of an evening and a morning, and that no new species has ever appeared since. He dwells on the production of birds from the water as resting upon certain warrant of Scripture, but adds, "If the question is to be argued on physical grounds, we know that water is more akin to air than the earth is." As to difficulties in the scriptural account of creation, he tells us that God "wished by these to give proofs of his power which should fill us with astonishment."
Another narration that is being debated; whether it's Literal or Allegorical is the story of "Noah's Deluge."
Does Darwin's Theory of Evolution explain why the human brain is so big?
Darwin's theory specifies descent with modification through natural selection. What that means essentially (and as an over simplification) is that DNA - which we now know to be the engine of change in species - is copied wrong, on occasion, leading to a modified gene. Sometimes those modifications have consequences for the animal. In the case of human brain size, perhaps some early hominid had a gene coding for the additional split of neurons during it's prenatal life (all animals, even ants and beetles, have the same basic brain chemistry. The main difference is that, during development, higher animals' brains are told to keep producing neurons, thus increasing in size to accommodate. Our brains produce the most neurons per overall surface area). So this hominid, and it's offspring, and maybe some relatives all have slightly better brains than their contemporaries allowing them greater powers of abstract thought, communication, and organization...MAYBE. They soon start out competing their neighbors for natural resources thereby increasing their numbers though better food, shelter, etc (again, this is all hypothetical and oversimplified). Soon their numbers are so great, they completely overwhelm the competing populations whose numbers crash. They are, unwittingly, moving toward becoming a new species, over thousands of generations, with slightly bigger brains. With the better food (mostly protein) comes the fuel to support the development of such large brains.
The same is true for all modifications from giraffe necks to whale spouts. They developed overtime through a series of accidents that worked in the animal's favor environmentally.
When did man first walk on earth?
Note: This question was originally placed in the Science category and generated both science and religion based responses. Subsequently, the original poster reiterated his desire that the question be answered in a scientific rather than a religious context. Quote: I put it in here, because I want a scientific answer. Unquote
Considering the fact that this question was placed in the Science and Environment FAQs rather than in the Religion and Spirituality FAQs, an appropriate response would be that "hominoids," which belong to the Hominoidea super-family of primates and include apes and humans, are thought to have first walked on earth around 6 million years ago.
For those who are looking for an answer based on religious teachings, please see related questions in those categories.
Answer We are not really sure when and how it ever started, and therefore we have very little idea where it's going; thus no no way of knowing where it will end.
Answer Evolution is constant and forever continuous. It isn't some kind event. It's a name for the explanation of how living things become different over time. As long as there is life, evolution will be there. Answer Some believe that evolution does not only relate to 'living' things, but to all things from the creation of the universe, to the galaxies, to the planets, to all the little complex elements which finally evolved into life. As long as the laws of physics exist and there is movement in the Universe (on any scale), evolution will be there. Answer: Evolution will progress until the infinite is achieved and it can, thus, progress no further which, by definition, is when God is created.
Who convinced Charles Darwin to publish his first book?
Charles Lyell, a geologist and friend of Darwin, encouraged him to publish his first book "On the Origin of Species." Lyell believed in the theory of evolution and saw the potential impact of Darwin's work on the scientific community.
What is the contributions of s.r.wayland for its evolution?
S.R. Wayland made significant contributions to the evolution of aeronautics and aircraft design through his work as an engineer and designer. He was known for his innovative ideas and designs that helped advance the field of aviation, particularly in the early 20th century. Wayland's work played a key role in shaping the development of aircraft technology and has left a lasting impact on the history of aviation.
What book did Darwin read that influenced his ideas when he sailed on the Beagle who was the author?
Darwin read "Principles of Geology" by Charles Lyell during his voyage on the Beagle. This book influenced Darwin's thinking on the gradual change of landscapes over time, which later contributed to his theory of evolution by natural selection.
Summary of roadside stand by Robert Frost?
In this poem, the poet contrasts the lives of poor and deprived countryside people who struggle to live with the thoughtless city people who don't even bother to notice the roadside stand that these people have put up to sell their goodies.
The poem starts with the description of the roadside stand and the intention behind it. A small time farmer builds a vegetable stand at the edge of the highway outside his house in the hope that passing cars would buy the produce and earn a bit of the money that supports cities from falling into ruin. He only wants to earn a living, he is not begging for money.
However, no cars ever stop and the ones that even glance in the direction cof the stand without any feeling of compassion or relatedness (out of sorts) only comment about how the construction spoils the view of the surroundings or how badly painted the wrongly pointed North and South signs are or to notice without interest the wild berries and squash for sale in the stand or the beautiful mountain scene.
The farmer tells the rich travelers to keep their money if they meant to be mean and that the hurt to the view is not as important as the sorrow he feels on being ignored. He only wishes for some (city) money so that he may experience the plush life (make our beings expand) portrayed by the movies and other media, which the political parties are said to be refusing him.
Frost goes on to say that even though these people have benefactors (good-doers), who plan to relocate them in villages where they can have easy access to the cinema and the store, they are actually selfish ('greedy good-doers' and 'beasts of prey') and only help these "pitiful kin" to indirectly advantage themselves. The altruists wish to make these villagers completely dependent on them for all their benefits and comforts, thus robbing them of the ability to think for themselves and be independent. 'The ancient way' could mean the old way when people worked during the day and slept at night. This is being reversed by the new 'greedy good doers' who teach these people to not use their brain. They are unable to sleep at night because they haven't worked during day time or because they are troubled by their new lifestyle.
Frost then talks about his personal feelings, saying that he can hardly breathe thought of the farmer's dashed hopes. The open windows of the farmer's house seem to wait all day just to hear the sound of a car stopping to make a purchase. However they are always disappointed, as vehicles only stop to inquire the price, to ask their way ahead, to reverse or ask for a gallon of gas.
According to the poet, the progress required has not been found by these country folk ("the requisite lift of spirit"). Their lifestyles provide ample evidence to support this fact. He sometimes feels that it might be best to simply put these people out of their pain and hardships of existence. However, once rational thinking returns to his mind, he wonders how HE would feel if someone offered to do him this supposed service.
(OR)
The poem compares the lives of people living in cities and the countryside. A small time farmer builds a vegetable stand at the edge of the highway outside his house in the hope that passing cars would buy the produce.He only wants to earn a living,he is not begging for money.However,no cars ever stop and the ones that even glance in the direction of the stand only comment about how the construction spoils the view of the surroundings.The farmer says that the hurt to the view is not as important as the sorrow he feels on being ignored.He only wishes for some money so that he may experience the plush life portrayed by the movies and other media,which the political parties are said to be refusing him.
Frost goes on to say that even though these people have benefactors,they are actually selfish and only help these "pitiful kin" to indirectly advantage themselves.The altruists wish to make these villagers completely dependent on them for all their benefits and comforts,thus robbing them of the ability to think for themselves and be independent.
Frost then talks about his personal feelings,saying that he can hardly bear the thought of the farmer's dashed hopes.The open windows of the farmer's house seem to wait all day just to hear the sound of a car stopping to make a purchase. However they are always disappointed,as vehicles only stop to ask their way ahead or ask for a gallon of gas.
According to the poet,the progress required has not been found by these country folk( "the requisite lift of spirit") Their lifestyles provide ample evidence to support this fact.He sometimes feel that it might be best to simply put these people out of their pain and hardships of existence. However,once rational thinking returns to his mind,he wonders how HE would feel if someone offered to do him this supposed service.
The Reading Evolution Index is a measure used to assess the progress and impact of reading initiatives and programs. It examines factors such as literacy rates, reading habits, accessibility to reading materials, and overall reading culture within a population or community. By analyzing these indicators, organizations and policymakers can evaluate the effectiveness of literacy interventions and determine areas for improvement.
It is believed that sheep were domesticated around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent region of Mesopotamia. The exact person or group responsible for "inventing" the lamb is unknown, as domestication happened gradually over generations through human interaction with wild sheep. Domestication likely occurred for their meat, wool, and other resources.
What is the relationship between evolution and geography?
Geography can influence evolution by creating barriers that limit the movement of species, leading to genetic isolation and potentially the development of new species through natural selection. Different environments can also drive adaptation in species, with variations in geography providing diverse ecological niches for the evolution of different traits.
Did Ernst Mayr win any medals or awards?
Yes, Ernst Mayr was a highly acclaimed evolutionary biologist who received several prestigious awards throughout his career. Some of his notable accolades include the National Medal of Science and the Balzan Prize.
Evolution of operating system?
The journey of operating systems (OS) evolution is a compelling narrative of how software has evolved to efficiently manage hardware resources while continually enhancing user interaction over the decades. In the embryonic stages during the 1950s and 1960s, operating systems were fairly rudimentary, tailored specifically for particular hardware, and primarily served as basic system managers. They provided a rudimentary interface for programmers to interact with the machine, a far cry from the sophisticated user interfaces we see today. As we transitioned into the late 1960s and early 1970s, the advent of batch processing emerged as a significant milestone, enabling the execution of jobs without the need for manual intervention. Simultaneously, the concept of multiprogramming began to take root, allowing multiple programs to reside in memory and share CPU time, significantly improving system utilization.
With the 1970s came the era of time-sharing systems, a groundbreaking innovation that allowed multiple users to interact with the computer simultaneously, bringing a semblance of multitasking. This era also saw the advent of real-time operating systems, engineered to meet the stringent timing constraints of specific applications. The late 1970s and 1980s heralded the personal computing era, where operating systems like MS-DOS, Windows, MacOS, and various Unix/Linux distributions became the cornerstone of the burgeoning personal computer market. They introduced user-friendly interfaces and a broad spectrum of functionalities, democratizing computer access. As we sailed into the 1980s and 1990s, networking capabilities became an integral part of operating systems, paving the way for distributed operating systems that could harness the collective power of interconnected computers to accomplish tasks.
The late 1990s and 2000s saw the internet's explosion, which significantly influenced operating system development, enhancing networking features, security, and support for web-based applications. It was during the 2000s and the 2010s that mobile operating systems like Android and iOS emerged with the rise of smartphones, optimized for power efficiency, connectivity, and touch interfaces, redefining how individuals interacted with digital technology. The 2010s also marked the era of cloud computing and virtualization, where modern operating systems evolved to support efficient resource utilization and isolation of applications through virtual machines and containers.
Now, as we venture into the late 2010s and 2020s, operating systems are being fine-tuned for IoT (Internet of Things) devices and edge computing, with a focus on lightweight, secure, and efficient operations to cater to the diverse requirements of modern-day computing environments. The burgeoning integration of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning into operating systems is enabling smarter, context-aware, and adaptive system behaviors, marking a significant stride towards more intelligent and autonomous systems. Security, in response to escalating cyber threats, is becoming a pivotal focus in modern OS design, with a security-first approach being adopted to provide robust protection against a myriad of cyber threats.
The relentless innovation in the realm of operating systems over the decades underscores the dynamic nature of the computing domain. From being mere facilitators of hardware-software interaction, operating systems have transitioned to being central linchpins in a highly interconnected computing ecosystem. They now offer a plethora of services, features, and capabilities that drive modern computing experiences, catering to a diverse range of requirements from personal computing to enterprise-level applications, and everything in between. The continual evolution of operating systems reflects the overarching narrative of technological progress, adapting to meet the ever-changing needs and challenges of the modern digital world.
What is the name for groups of families with a common ancestor?
The name for groups of families with a common ancestor is a clan or a lineage.
How old is the present human species?
Homo sapiens may be as old as 200,000 years, or as young as 100,000 years old.
Who is credited with producing the first truly comprehensive theory of organization?
Henri Fayol is credited with producing the first truly comprehensive theory of organization. In his book "General and Industrial Management," published in 1916, Fayol introduced his theory of management known as the "14 Principles of Management." This theory outlined key principles such as division of work, unity of command, and scalar chain, which are still widely used in organizational management today.
Does a sturgeon reproduce asexually or sexually?
They reproduce sexually because a male sturgeon must fertilize an egg to create an offspring.
What provides the direction evolution takes?
Really only natural selection can provide an adaptive direction to evolution. Both gene flow and genetic drift can change allele sequences over time in populations but that is not enough to bring about speciation in those populations. Only natural selection gives you the adaptive change and directional selection that creates new species.
