Charles Darwin

Lamarck's theory is disproved through many different examples of acquired characteristics. Anything that happens to a parent would be passed on to the offspring. Acoording to Lamarck, a parent that has tattoos would pass on the tattoos to the offspring. Loss of limb, injuries, cosmetic surgery or anything that changed in the parents would manifest in the offspring. This is not the case.

Acquired characteristics are not passed on to offspring unless they change the gene sequence of the sex cells. Parents do not give physical characteristics to offspring, but do give the coding for those characteristics. The gene passes on the trait.

The three fields that collaborate to explain evolution are genetics, paleontology, and comparative anatomy. Genetics studies the role of DNA in inherited traits, paleontology examines the fossil record for evidence of past life forms, and comparative anatomy compares the physical structures of different species to infer evolutionary relationships.

The model for slow changes of evolution over time is known as gradualism. This model proposes that evolution occurs gradually through small, incremental changes in species over long periods of time, resulting in the development of new species. This contrasts with the theory of punctuated equilibrium, which suggests that evolution can also occur through rapid bursts of change followed by long periods of stability.

Charles Darwin faced challenges such as opposition to his theory of evolution by natural selection, health issues that affected him throughout his life, and the pressure to publish his groundbreaking ideas in a timely manner. Additionally, he struggled with his religious beliefs and the implications of his theory on his own faith and that of society at large.

"Survival of the fittest" is a term associated with natural selection, where individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation, while those with less favorable traits may not survive or reproduce as successfully. This process leads to the gradual adaptation of species to their environment over time.

Darwin lacked knowledge of genetics and the mechanism of inheritance, as well as the concept of DNA. These were not understood during his time and were discovered later, providing a more comprehensive understanding of how traits are passed down through generations.

In the late 1700s, James Hutton published his important work titled "Theory of the Earth." This work laid the foundation for the science of geology by introducing the principle of uniformitarianism, which suggests that the Earth's geologic processes have been occurring gradually over time.

Evolutionary theory suggests that the individuals who are most adapted to their environment and can successfully reproduce are considered the fittest. This doesn't necessarily mean physical strength, but rather the ability to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation.

1. Reproduction

Information (DNA is used for life on Earth) is accurately replicated.

2. Variation

Changes in parts of the information caused by mutation or recombination.

3. Selection

Individuals with changes that give rise to increased reproductive success, will tend to have more offspring. This will spread that advantageous change through the population.

Changes that reduce reproductive success will lead to less offspring and so are "weeded out" by selection.

In science, a theory is a well-substantiated explanation based on evidence and testing. The ideas about evolution are called theories because they have been extensively researched, tested, and supported by a wide range of scientific evidence from various fields such as genetics, paleontology, and comparative anatomy. Evolutionary theory is considered one of the most robust and well-supported theories in biology.

Charles Darwin was not the first to recognise the role of evolution, but he did recognise that evolution came about by variability and natural selection. Darwin believed that when a natural variation gave a survival advantage, that individual was more likely to survive and pass on the genes responsible for that variation. He saw that varieties can be developed in a sufficiently short period to be studied, and said that evolution of species is just an extension of the observed evolution of varieties. Darwin said that [in nature] a well marked variety can justly be called an incipient species, although the variety, for any number of reasons, may never progress to becoming a distinct species. He published his most important work, The Origin of Species, in 1859 and The Descent of Man in 1871.

1.) Charles Darwin: Theory of Evolution

2.) Gregor Mendel: Father of Genetics (showed that parents pass on personal traits to their offspring)

3.) Marie and Pierre Curie: Discovered radioactivity.

Lamarck believed that changes acquired during an animal's life could be inherited by their offspring. We now know that inheritance does not work in this way.

For example, if you are a body builder, and develop big muscles, your children will not inherit large muscles.

Inherirtance works through genes, which are inherited through the egg and sperm from the parents.

Some people believe in it while others do not. Belief itself is irrelevant. The theory could be true or false regardless of how many people believe or disbelieve.

I personally accept it as accurate due to the evidence that the fossil record and DNA gives us but many Christians (and those of other religious beliefs) believe that to say that Evolution is real is to deny that God created everything. There are those who believe that God created evolution. Evolution is a theory but in science terms a theory is a widely accepted (by scientists) explanation supported by data.

The evidence evolution occurs runs rampant through the genetic code of modern species and through the fossil record. Compare the earliest amphibians to sarcopterygian lungfish. Considered legged cetaceans. Examine the human chromosome that is a fused pair of "monkey: chromosomes. Contemplate the GULO gene. Why should we share a defective gene for the synthesis of ascorbic acid with old world monkeys?

These are all strong indicators evolution has occurred, though the theory of evolution is the explanation that ties these facts into a coherent picture.

Selection favors calling in species that use vocalizations to communicate important information such as warning signals, mating calls, or territorial displays. Individuals who have a more effective or distinctive call may have a better chance of surviving, reproducing, and passing on their genes to the next generation. Over time, this can lead to the evolution of more complex or efficient calling behaviors in a population.

Selection pressure caused by the invasive species entering the ecosystem. They would be possibly competing for the same resources with different traits that might favor one species traits over the others on average. The native species is a population of variants, so some among the native population could compete with the invasive species on a more equal footing. These would be naturally selected by being reproductively sucessful, ultimately, and thus change the allele frequency in the native populations gene pool; the definition of evolution.

Darwin's three major contributions to evolutionary thought are;

1. There is genetic variation in all species

2. The variability is inherited - passed from parents to offspring

3. There are more offspring born than that survive to reproductive age

The three key factors in evolution by natural selection are variation in traits within a population, heritability of those traits, and differential reproductive success based on those traits (adaptation). This process leads to the gradual change in the genetic makeup of a population over successive generations.

• Genetic drift, as it is a random process that does not necessarily contribute to the differential survival and reproduction of individuals.
• Variation, heritability, and differential reproductive success are essential components of natural selection.

Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is widely accepted in the scientific community and forms the foundation of modern biology. It is supported by abundant evidence from various fields such as genetics, paleontology, and comparative anatomy. While some aspects of the theory have been refined and expanded upon over time, its core principles remain a fundamental part of our understanding of how life has diversified on Earth.

Scientists study proteins to find evidence for evolution because proteins are essential molecules that carry out many functions in living organisms. By comparing the sequences of proteins across different species, scientists can uncover similarities and differences that provide clues about how different species are related and have evolved over time. This can help shed light on the evolutionary history and relationships between species.

No. Because ' survival of the fittest ' is a highly inaccurate concept that is not considered empirically supportable. Fit individuals die; populations evolve by expressing the traits passed on by fit individuals. That fitness is environmentally in context dependent and a phrase like ' survival of the fittest ', while catchy, does not address the true issue of heredity.

The answer below is partly right, but natural selection actually does not act on an individual. As stated below, individuals within a population of a given species are selected based on physical trains which benefit, but not for the survival of the animal itself. It is important to note that in Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection, environmental change does not create new alleles but rather select from the gene pool of a population that has the allele which would benifit in a given condition. Thus, natural selection act on a population and its gene pool rather than the individuals.

Yes. According to Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, individuals within a population of a given species are "selected" based on physical traits which benefit the survival of the animal. However, they are only "selected" thanks to the individuals that die, because they are not physically suited for survival as well as the others. Natural selection acts directly only on those to die, because it is technically the only physical "act" or determining factor that demonstrates Darwin's theory. All the rest simply has to do with the animals left over, which simply breed as usual inevitably creating better and better animals, while natural selection picks off all those that are not quite good enough.

Darwin's theories of evolution by natural selection are supported by a vast amount of evidence from various scientific fields, including paleontology, genetics, comparative anatomy, and biogeography. Fossil records show a progression of life forms over time, genetic studies demonstrate shared ancestry among species, anatomical similarities suggest common descent, and the distribution of species across geographic regions aligns with evolutionary predictions. Additionally, observations of adaptation in living organisms through selective breeding and bacterial resistance further validate the mechanisms proposed by Darwin.

Evolutionary theory is a scientific theory, and stands separate from any religious belief, just like one does not have to have or lack any particular religious belief in order to accept gravity or general relativity.