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Evolution
The scientific theory according to which populations change gradually through a process of natural selection.
5,264 Questions
Why do people believe in the theory of evolution?
Answer 1
Because they accept the myriad of evidence that underlines the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.
Answer 2
Because they relied on evidences, observations, experiments. These are the basic premises of sciences. For an idea to be called a 'theory' in science required more evidences and tests, etc. A theory in science means more than what most lay people realize. A hypothesis in science is closer to what lay people think of as a 'theory' in daily usage. So when you hear the Theory of Evolution, there is substantial evidence behind it, just like there is for the Theory of Relativity or Theory of Gravitation.
On the other hand, just because something has lots of evidence behind it does not mean it's correct. However, it takes a lot of counter-evidence to overturn a theory. Remember, it took a long time and substantial evidence to change the theory that the earth was not the center of the universe.
What is a sentence with the word biological evolution?
>The structural and well-organised gradual process of change means 'biological evolution'.
>Variation and heridity are two basic factors of evolution.
>In long term.evolution leads to existence of new species which have different characteristics than their ancestors.
How do artificial and natural selection contribute to biological diversity?
Artificial selection is controlled by humans and involves selecting specific traits in organisms for breeding, while natural selection is driven by environmental factors. Both processes result in the accumulation of genetic variations over time, contributing to biological diversity by allowing species to adapt and evolve to changing conditions. Artificial selection can be more rapid and targeted, while natural selection is a result of the survival and reproduction of the fittest individuals in a given environment.
What process causes evolution?
Evolution is driven by natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutations. These processes lead to changes in the genetic makeup of populations over generations, resulting in the accumulation of adaptations that help species survive and reproduce in their environment.
What is the particular species that come and go in the process on succesion depend on?
The particular species that come and go in the process of succession depend on factors such as soil quality, climate conditions, availability of resources, and interactions with other species present in the ecosystem. These factors determine which species are able to establish and thrive in a given environment at different stages of succession.
What are the arguments for and against evolution?
The arguments for evolution are easy to sum up: virtually every observation in the scientific disciplines of biology and palaeontology.
The arguments against require a more nuanced approach. Many have been made, but on cursory inspection, they almost invariably appear to be based on misinformation, misconception, misrepresentation, misquoting or quote-mining, or willful ignorance. The least factually inaccurate (though still not in any way compelling) arguments against evolution so far are all in the category "we don't know yet, so evolution must be wrong."
Answer:
This answer is from a Creation-standpoint and not accepted as factual by most scientists. Creationists hold that:
1) The lack of transitional fossils has been noted by evolutionists, such as this statement from the famous paleontologist and evolutionist George G. Simpson; quote: "The regular lack of transitional fossils is not confined to primates alone, but is an almost universal phenomenon."
2) Instances of falsifying of evidence by evolutionists, such as Haeckel's drawings and Piltdown Man.
3) Creationists see the "survival of the fittest" and the dating of rock layers by fossils as being perfect tautologies.
4) The fact that some qualified, educated, normal scientists do not believe in evolution.
5) The fact that there is a shared, worldwide tradition among every ancient society that the world was created.
6) Evolving of new species has not been witnessed during known history.
7) Mutations are harmful, not beneficial. One of the tasks of DNA and of long-term breeding is to avoid or repair any changes brought about by mutations.
8) Mutations, even if beneficial, do not create new organs.
9) The fact that a great number of fossils have been found in the "wrong" rock-layers according to what evolutionary paleontology would require.
10) The fact that you need DNA to make DNA.
11) The problem of the impossibility of abiogenesis.
12) The fact that evolution was once used as support for the belief that Blacks (or others) are less than highly-evolved humans.
Who is Darwin and what is his theory?
Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection. His theory suggests that species evolve over time through the process of natural selection, where organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation.
What all the ideal non-real conditions of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium predict; no evolution takes place. Mating is assortative, non-random in the real world and sexual selection is at work when assortative mating takes place, thus evolution.
What process is a mechanism of evolution?
Natural selection is a key process of evolution, where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the passing on of those traits to future generations. This process results in changes in the genetic makeup of a population over time, ultimately driving the diversity of life on Earth.
How is DNA used as evidence of evolution?
DNA can be used as evidence of evolution by comparing the genetic sequences of different species. Similarities in DNA sequences suggest a common evolutionary ancestor, while differences can indicate how species have evolved and adapted over time. By analyzing mutations and genetic variations, scientists can infer evolutionary relationships between species.
One possible process is abiogenesis, where simple organic molecules gradually formed more complex structures, eventually developing into the first cells. This could have occurred through a combination of chemical reactions, environmental conditions, and natural selection over billions of years.
Is evolution an emergent property of living systems?
I would say that it more an effect that living systems produce as a result of reproduction than a property. But yes, one could say that an emergent property of life is that it evolves.
Was the evolution theory disproved?
Yes, in fact many, many times. There is much more evidence supporting Creation, meanwhile evolution has too many impossible components associated. Any way you put it, life springing from amino acids is impossible, because the cell would die. Also, if monkeys evolved into humans, why are monkeys still existing? The so-called fossils have all been either individually disproven or just fragments of a skeleton, like teeth.
Why is the geological column considered to be evidence for evolution?
In itself, it isn't. The geological column is a principle used in the preliminary dating of geological features relative to other features. Palaeontology uses estimates gained through geological dating to establish timeframes for the emergence of particular forms in the fossil record. These timeframes in themselves also aren't evidence for common descent, in themselves. What is evidence for common descent is that derived forms are almost always found in geological features that are younger than the layers the oldest basal forms are found in. For example: no primates before mammals; no apes before primates; no humans before apes; and so on.
Is the naturalistic evolution true?
Yes, the theory of naturalistic evolution, which states that species change over time through natural selection acting on random genetic variations, is widely accepted in the scientific community as the best explanation for the diversity of life on Earth. Through empirical evidence from various fields like paleontology, genetics, and comparative anatomy, scientists have been able to support this theory.
Why was the urey-miller experiment important?
The Urey-Miller experiment proved the validity of the creation of complex organic molecules from the primordial soup of early Earth. With the energy from an electric discharge, the primordial soup - which consists mainly of ammonia, water, and some carbon dioxide - can be changed into amino acids, the base monomer of proteins. The experiment thus shows that the "ingredients" necessary for life could have been created on early Earth, providing a possible framework for the emergence of life.
What is the difference between evolution and convergent evolution?
Evolution is the general theory itself, by which organisms change and adapt over time. Convergent evolution is a specific proces in which similar traits appear in unrelated organisms. For example, insects and birds both have wings but the two evolved independent of each other. That's convergent evolution.
When do scientists believe that modern humans appeared?
Scientists believe that modern humans, or Homo sapiens, appeared in Africa around 200,000 years ago. This is based on genetic and fossil evidence that indicates the origin and migration patterns of early human populations.
What are some of the topics that the theory of evolution has trouble explaining?
Evolution is not a theory it is a fact. Recognised as such by most sensible people and many religions.
There are several theories of how and why evolution proceeds
"oh ok...
im just doing a science assignment on evolution and that's one of the questions we have to cover, although i do go to a christian school"
What is the endosymbiotic hypothesis of the origin of the eukaryotic cell?
The theory is that the original Eukaryotic cell came about by the consumption of a Prokaryotic cell by another Prokayotic cell. This smaller cell was incorporated into the processes of the other - thus forming a symbiosis.
This theory is supported by the fact that chloroplasts and mitochondria have their own DNA (separate from the nucleus).
Yes, when stabilizing selection is acting, individuals with extreme phenotypes are selected against, leading to an increase in the frequencies of intermediate phenotypes within a population. This process helps to maintain the overall consistency of a particular trait or characteristic over successive generations by favoring individuals with traits closer to the population average.
What are some of the criticisms of the theory of evolution?
The theory of evolution has many criticisms but none have proven evolution wrong. For example, some people argue that the bacterial flagellum is 'irreducibly complex' and therefore can not have evolved, even though the evidence shows that it not only could have, but has.
Why are 6 themes of biology important?
Cell theory is important because without knowledge of cells it would be harder to fight diseases, and we wouldn't know anything about most living things or about how our organ work at the microscopic level and wouldn't know how we evolved and with out it we wouldn't have known we had evolved( because we wouldn't no what precursors to the first animals, plants, and fungi are.) Real life applications: Germ theory of disease, Autoimmune disorders, etc...
Evolution is important because of evolutionary medicine, without which we would not know how to stop the evolution of disease resistance in bacteria and artificial selection which is the selection and breeding of organisms for a purpose, and evolutionary algorithms and also may help in learning what gene does what in the organism. Real life applications: figuring out what gene does what, Evolutionary medicine, Artificial selection, Evolutionary Algorithms, etc...
Genetics can help understand genetic diseases, and mendelian genetics can help us understand the inheritance of gene disorders and hopefully in the future help us to correct them.
Homeostasis can also help us stop disease as well and is important for organ donors and organ receivers.
Ecology is important because it makes sure we don't ruin the environment and will be needed in the possible crisis that we appear to be headed for...
I'm unaware of a sixth theme.
Distinguish creation theory with the evolution of man?
I can distinguish creation theory by saying that it is not a theory, but an ideology that has not a scintilla of evidence in support of it. Evolution, the change in allele frequency over time in a population of organisms, is a fact. The theory of evolution, which is the nonrandom survival of randomly variant replicators, explains the fact of evolution. Naturally, man, being a animal is subject to evolutionary forces.
