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Evolution
The scientific theory according to which populations change gradually through a process of natural selection.
5,264 Questions
What would occur as a result of changes in the frequency of a gene?
Changes in the frequency of a gene within a population can lead to genetic variation. This can impact the traits expressed in individuals and influence the population's overall genetic diversity. Over time, changes in gene frequency can result in evolution and adaptation within a population.
Charophyte.
The changing geologic condition of the Paleozoic age affected the evolution of animals by leading to the development of land based vertebrates and vascular plants. The largest mass extinction in our planets history happen at the end of the Paleozoic Era.
Biological evidence of the age of the earth includ?
Biological evidence of the age of the earth includes the presence of fossils, the evolution of species over time as seen in the fossil record, and the molecular evidence of genetic changes in organisms that have accumulated over millions of years. These biological factors, along with others like radiometric dating of rocks, provide compelling evidence for the earth being billions of years old.
How long ago did animals originate?
The earliest unicellular animals appeared about 800 million years ago.
the blue whale and the the domestic
Can you believe in both evolution and creation?
Firstly Genesis was never ever meant to be taken literally, and was not taken literally either by the Jews or the early Church (see Origen quote above). Genesis, at least the first chapters, was written as a Hebrew allegorical poem. And a composite one at that. For there are two incompatible Creation stories there in chapters 1 and 2. Creationists who insist on taking Genesis literally either do not know, or conveniently ignore that the Hebrew dictates this allegorical nature. Yes, there is great truth there, of humanity's stupidity, the love of God, its sinful nature and so on, but the literal reading of Genesis loses this truth and replaces it with something that simply does not make sense. As examples:
- The insistence on six (24hr) days of Creation means that the sun and moon were created after the 'day' - the effect, in other words comes before the cause.
- Creationists insist that the serpent represents the devil. Yet this is never mentioned - and the concept of Satan as a personification of evil was not even in the Jewish theology when this was written.
- Creationists insist that Jesus himself believed in Adam and Eve. yet the number of times Jesus actually mentions Adam (or Eve) or Eden - is preciesly zero.
- If God, as a God of love, did not wish Adam and Eve to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, why put it there in the first place? To tempt them? to trip them up? That does not speak of a God of love.
as well as many, many others.
So, taken literally, Genesis is riddled with inconsistencies on which Creationists have built their own theology rather than the theology of the Christian Church as set down by Our Lord himself.
Evolution too is not the complete answer. We know now that some sort of evolution does occur - and is occurring today, but there are still too many unanswered questions about it to presuppose that Darwin was totally correct. There are many events within evolution (why sudden blossoming of species? why no missing links between some clearly different species etc) that mean that we still, despite what Richard Dawkins says about Darwin, do not have anywhere near the complete answer.
However, there is a middle ground, which most Christians follow. Whilst accepting evolution wholeheartedly, I must disagree with the above answer which states that evolution does not need a creator. It certainly does. Back at the moment of Creation (or the 'Big Bang' if you prefer) the laws of nature were set down in the first microseconds of the expanding universe to enable the universe itself to evolve as it has done today. The so-called Anthropic Principle, which has caused quite a stir in scientific circles recently, dictates that the most fundamental constants of the universe are so fine tuned so that stars and planets can exist. The slightest fluctuations either way would mean that the universe as we now it, and especially the stars - which provide all heavier elements necessary for life - would not exist. You can possibly count on coincidence for a couple of these constants to be 'just right' but coincidence goes out of the window when one considers that there are over a hundred fundamental constants that are finely tuned in order that life should exist. One slight fluctuation of a fraction of one percent in any of them would mean that life could not evolve, anywhere. The eminent particle physicist Professor Russel Stannard once said "the universe has bent over backwards in order that intelligent life should exist...the universe must have known we were coming". The Anthropic Principle has become evidence for design within the universe, and the most fundamental and profound design at that.
So yes, it is possible to believe in evolution and Creation. But not the cut-and-dried definitive evolution of Richard Dawkins. Nor in the literal interpretation of a Hebrew poem. Thinking Christians and those who are more devoted to following Christ and his teaching rather than worship a book do just that - every day.
The number and structure of what can help to determine evolutionary relationships between species?
The number and structure of chromosomes help determine evolutionary relationships between species. Chromosome comparison helps to provide evidence of the relationships in a species.
What is the evolutionary advantage of creating sticky ends rather than blunt ends to bacteria?
Many bacteria produce proteins called adhesins, which protrude from their membranes and help the bacteria stick to any cell it might encounter, giving it a chance to invade that cell.
The benefits of this 'stickiness' would seem obvious: it greatly enhances the odds that a bacterium is able to successfully invade a host cell, and reproduce. This is true even for bacteria that have some form of locomotion, such as a flagellum (in fact, flagella can, to some degree, function as adhesives).
What are the uses of common bird structures?
Feathers are a structure that are common to all species of bird. Most feathers are very similar in structure, although they vary depending on how and where the bird lives.
The formation of a new species can result from what?
The formation of a new species can result from various mechanisms, including natural selection, genetic drift, and isolation that lead to reproductive barriers between populations, preventing interbreeding. Over time, these factors can accumulate genetic differences and eventually result in distinct species.
Why did it take Darwin more than twenty years to publish his ideas of evolution?
Charles Darwin came from a very religious family, and did not believe the community would accept his work.
What is Mitt Romney's view on teaching evolution?
Mitt Romney believes that God created the universe, and evolution is the mechanism He used to create humans.
Romney believes that science classes should have evolution taught, not creationism or intelligent design. He states that they are perfectly fine in a philosophy, religion, or history classroom. This is his view from 2008.
It seems that he has been relatively quiet on this issue since he started running for the Republican nomination.
Does the theory of evolution mean that God doesn't exist?
No, it does not mean that.
God created the universe and all creatures and God allowed the evolution of these creatures; by God's will; to adapt themselves with the surrounding nature. One should believe that God is responsible for both Creation and evolution.
Answer:
No, it does not mean that.
What it does mean is that gods are not required to explain life's diversity.
What happen when forest fire occurs?
Well there is obviously a fire, and then the fire department comes and planes spread that red gas (I forgot what it was called!) on the fire trying to make it come out. It really depends on how large the fire is to determine how much time it will take for it to be done.
What could prove that humans evolved from Neanderthals?
I doubt that any evidence, experiment, or research could prove that humans evolved from Neanderthals. Neanderthals and humans both evolved from Heidelberg Men (Homo heidelbergensis). Genetic evidence, cloning, and geometric reconstruction can effectively establish that humans (Homo sapiens) and Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) evolved from Homo heidelbergensis, but it is difficult to irrevocably prove something like that, as it cannot be, as far as we know, recreated in a laboratory.
Are wisdom teeth an example of human evolution taking place right now?
Wisdom teeth are vestigial organs, which are organs that have lost their original or primary function. Wisdom teeth were used when humans had a primarily vegetative diet and needed to chew through thick vegetation. Rather than an example of evolution taking place, wisdom teeth reveal the remains of evolution.
What is the importance of time in the evolutionary theory?
That there be enough of it for evolutionary processes to take place. Humans have trouble comprehending the deep time that has passed since the formation of the earth.
Speciation that results from geographical isolation that leads to reproductive isolation?
Allopactric ( other country ) speciation.
What era did large mammals first appear?
The Cenozoic era at about 65 million years ago. The Paleogene period.
How do natural selection and mutations fall short in explaining design?
They don't. The appearance of design in nature is an illusion that only the ideological keep to.
Why is it that only populations evolve not individuals?
Populations evolve as changes in genes are passed down from parent to offspring. When a genetic change is passed down, it is there with the offspring organism from the start of its life and can affect how it develops. The organism with the altered genes can then pass those changes down to its own offspring, and thus the change can affect a population over the course of generations. So evolution occurs not by individuals changing, but from each new generation being slightly different from the previous one.
An individual organism keeps the same set of genes it is born with through its entire life.
