Evolution

Yes, organisms that develop similar traits independently due to similar environmental pressures are the result of convergent evolution. This process leads to analogous structures that serve the same function but have different underlying genetic origins. An example is the streamlined bodies of sharks and dolphins, which evolved separately for better aquatic locomotion.

You can doubt evolution and anything else you want. The better question is if you should doubt evolution, or if you can reasonably doubt evolution in light of science.

A lot of aspects concerning evolution are backed by rather sound science. That isn't to say that the theory of evolution explains everything. The earliest textbooks on the topic said that you had to take parts of it by faith. That is no different than believing what religion has to say about it. You do have to ask yourself how to reconcile the laws saying that matter and energy cannot be created nor destroyed with the Big Bang Theory. Since if there was nothing, then you must ask where all the "something" suddenly come from.

Simple prokaryotic organisms, such as bacteria and archaea, are believed to have been the first to develop on Earth due to the harsh early environmental conditions, like the lack of oxygen and extreme temperatures. These organisms were able to thrive in such conditions and are thought to have played a crucial role in shaping the Earth's early environment.

Adaptation in sexual reproduction refers to the processes that enhance an organism's ability to reproduce and pass on its genes to the next generation. This can include traits such as specialized reproductive structures, behaviors to attract mates, and genetic diversity to increase offspring survival. Organisms evolve specific adaptations for successful mating and reproduction in their particular environment.

Scientists now think that the pace of evolutionary change can vary greatly depending on factors such as environmental pressures, population size, and genetic variation. It is understood that evolution can occur rapidly in response to sudden changes in the environment, while in stable conditions, evolution may proceed at a slower pace. Additionally, new research suggests that evolution can also occur in punctuated bursts rather than consistently over time.

Answer: Many, even the majority, who follow Darwinian evolution by natural selection would not agree that there are any myths connected with it. That said, real science, with solid evidence to back it up would produce a number of possible answers to this question:

1. Natural selection does not explain the adding of new genetic information into the genome of organisms that enable the changes that evolution believes happen such as the change from dinosaurs into birds. this has never been demonstrated scientifically. Famous evolutionist Richard Dawkins was asked about this issue some years ago and had no answer, no example of an information adding mutation. So this is one 'natural selection myth.'

2. Another seeming "myth" -Natural selection culls out the sick and the weak -the work done by predators. In fact scientific studies on the 'chase-kill response' in predators shows they prefer to attack healthy individuals. We are here talking about predators such as lions, tigers, cheetahs etc. and their prey. This may be that they are attracted to a chase which is not provided by a sick or weak prey and they may also be wary of disease in weak individuals, which also may not provide a good lot of meat they are after.

3. Another myth (assuming we are talking about the modern evolutionary synthesis which includes mutations) is that mutations actually provide new information -they in fact are shown in modern studies to be degrading the genome. this is particularly shown to be so in humans -probably the most studied of the 'higher organisms". Human geneticists are agreed that the human genome is degrading not getting better, through mutations. This is because by far the majority of mutations are of small effect and so are not 'noticed' by natural selection. This effectively means the human genome is deteriorating like rust accumulates on a car over time.

Phylogenetics is a field of biology that studies the evolutionary relationships among organisms. It uses genetic information to reconstruct evolutionary trees that show how species are related to each other. Phylogenetic analysis helps scientists understand the history of life on Earth, infer common ancestors, and study patterns of biodiversity.

Phylogenetic inertia illustrates the tendency for species to retain ancestral traits over time, even if those traits are no longer advantageous. This concept helps explain why some traits may persist in species even if they have lost their original function or have become maladaptive in a new environment.

The two scientists credited with developing the theory of evolution by natural selection are Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" in 1859 and Wallace's independent work culminated in the joint presentation of their findings to the Linnean Society of London in 1858.

Charles Darwin is often credited as the first scientist to propose the theory of evolution through natural selection in his book "On the Origin of Species" published in 1859.

The Theory of Sexual Selection suggests that traits evolve based on their ability to help individuals of a species secure mates and reproduce. This can lead to the development of exaggerated physical characteristics or behaviors that enhance an individual's mating success. These traits may not always contribute to survival but can increase reproductive success.

The term "prokaryote" implies that all unicellular organisms lacking a nucleus are similar, which is misleading as Bacteria and Archaea have distinct genetic, biochemical, and ecological differences. The use of this term may oversimplify the diversity and complexity of these organisms.

Scientific evolution is the evolution of scientific methodology through time; from the first attempts to derive knowledge about the world through observation, to the first formal approaches to do so structurally, including experimentation, to the current system of research and publication, which includes a formal scientific ethos.

Evolution is a theory that all species are constantly evolving.

It states that evolving can be faster in certain circumstances.

Random events, especially geographical, are one of these cicumstances.

Every individual within a population is different. Some differences are minor, some major, some noticable, others not.

These differences are all caused by mutation: a deviation from the DNA blueprint of the population, because reproduction of cells in the feotus is not perfect.

The individuals that have mutations beneficial to survival & reproduction & nurturing of proginy outlast all the others, over time, as those mutations are passed onto their young.

This is natural selection, which changes the population.

Evolution is a scientific theory explaining the diversity of modern life. The various forms of creationism are religious beliefs, usually inspired by ancient myths captured in religious scriptures.

Basically, this question doesn't have any one answer (due to different conditions of previous mass extinctions). But from a broad view, the change in environment (e.g weather, food sources etc) forced species to evolve or disappear. For example, species as large as most dinosaurs could not survive in todays world due to the fact that they would deplete their food source in a short period of time. During the cretaceous period, the climate was far warmer than now, allowing vegetation to flourish, which in turn allowed herbivores to flourish, thus providing food for predators. Change in climate also contributed dramatically, as reptiles (the previous dominant species on the planet) rely on an external heat source and being as large as they were, they needed a lot of it.

Essentially we all evolved from the same place, what you see in species today is the result of trial and error (on a genetic level) over millions of years in order to adapt as efficiently as possible to survive in a volatile and unpredictable world. You even find this in different races around the world who have adapted different skin types, facial features etc to suit the environment in which they have lived over many generations.

So essentially nothing really caused rapid evolution. Everything was in the process of evolving, however the changes which caused mass extinctions just changed the outcome of the end result. As a matter of fact there is a lot of evidence pointing towards the fact that everything still is evolving.

A typical human would have around 1-2 lethal genes if homozygous for lethal alleles. Lethal genes are usually rare in the human population due to the negative impact on survival and reproduction.

Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life on Earth by showing how all living organisms are linked through a common ancestry. It provides a framework for understanding the biological relationships and patterns observed in nature, helping to explain the similarities and differences between different species. By highlighting the gradual changes that occur over time through natural selection and genetic variation, evolution unites the various branches of biology by providing a cohesive explanation for the complexity of life.

PDH (Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy) and SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) are two different systems for transmitting digital signals over telecommunication networks. In PDH, signals are transmitted at fixed multiples of the basic data rate, resulting in slight timing variations between signals. In contrast, SDH uses a standardized synchronous timing system, allowing for more efficient and reliable data transmission with fixed frame structures.

Fossils provide physical evidence of extinct organisms and show a progression of forms over time, supporting the concept of evolution through natural selection. Biochemicals, such as DNA and proteins, can be compared between different species to reveal shared genetic sequences, indicating a common ancestry and supporting the theory of evolution.

Coastal evolution is influenced by factors such as sea level changes, sediment supply, wave energy, and tectonic activity. These factors interact to shape coastlines through erosion, deposition, and landform development over time. Human activities, such as coastal engineering and climate change, also play a significant role in coast evolution.

Biological evolution refers to the change in inherited traits over generations in populations. Stages of biological evolution could refer to processes within evolution, such as variation, selection, and inheritance, that contribute to the overall evolutionary change in a population.

The punctuated equilibrium hypothesis suggests that species often undergo long periods of evolutionary stability, or stasis, interrupted by short bursts of rapid change leading to new species formation. This model contrasts with gradualism, which posits a slow and steady accumulation of changes over time.