Evolution

DNA evidence is not specifically stored as evidence for a creator or against evolution. However, some people may argue that the complex information encoded in DNA suggests an intelligent designer, while others view it as a product of natural selection and evolution. Ultimately, interpretations of DNA evidence depend on one's worldview and understanding of science and religion.

Survival of the fittest is a concept in evolution where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits on to their offspring. It does not necessarily mean the strongest or most physically fit survive, but rather those best adapted to their environment. This process leads to the gradual change and adaptation of species over time.

At was right, at the time, because it was a plausible, parsimonious model consistent with everything that was known at the time. However, it is no longer entirely right. We've learned many things since Darwin's time, and made significant alterations to the model. Evolutionary theory today includes genetics, elaborate mathematical modelling of population dynamics, developmental biology, and so forth, and so on. Evolutionary theory today is still partly based on Darwin's work, but is mostly a synthesis of more recent findings and understanding of biology.

The theory of evolution by natural selection is no longer just Darwin's theory because the theory has been modified and added to somewhat in the last 150 years +.

Still, the theory is supported by massive amounts of converging evidence, is internally consistent, has the ability to generated testable hypotheses and, doing what a scientific theory is supposed to do, explains much about the fact of evolution.

The theory of evolution by natural selection is the bedrock of biology.

He didn't believe anything about it. Ussher was an archbishop of the Church of Ireland, living at a time when nothing was known about evolution. He was a classic Young Earth creationist; he's even known for calculating the date of creation based on scripture, but had he known about evolution and the evidence for common descent, there's no telling how he would have reacted.

Charles Lyell, a geologist, proposed the idea of gradualism in evolution. He believed that geological processes operated at a slow and steady pace over long periods of time, influencing the gradual change in species over time. This concept influenced Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

A few years ago, biologists would have said that the relation between epigenetics and evolution was minimal, given that there was no reason to think, at the time, that epigenetic effects lasted more than a couple of generations. Now, however, it is becoming more apparent that epigenetic factors can indeed influence the way allele frequencies develop over the generations, and thus have a lasting impact on the evolution of a population.

The hypothesis of common descent proposes that all living organisms on Earth share a common ancestor. This means that all species, from bacteria to humans, have evolved through a process of gradual modifications over billions of years. Evidence in support of this hypothesis comes from comparative anatomy, genetics, and the fossil record.

A. It is no longer Darwin's theory as the theory of evolution by natural selection has been modified and added to since Darwin's day. Still, Darwin would recognize the theory as it stands today.

B. Science does not " prove " things as that is a mathematical concept. Science supports it's theories with overwhelming amounts of converging evidence.

That said, the theory of evolution by natural selection has been upheld scientifically for over 150 years and had withstood many tests and challenges. The theory of evolution by natural selection ios the bedrock upon which modern biology is built.

Heritable traits that confer some survival or reproductive advantage, or natural selection will cull traits that confer the opposite to survival and reproductive advantage.

So, the individual organisms, or his genes, are selected and these alleles increase in frequency in populations and evolution takes place.

1. Darwin's theory of natural selection: organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
2. Lamarck's theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics: organisms can pass on traits they acquire during their lifetime to their offspring.
3. Genetic drift: random changes in gene frequencies of a population over time, leading to diversity and evolution.
4. Convergent evolution: unrelated species independently evolve similar traits in response to similar environmental pressures.

Evolution has occurred all over the world, in various environments and ecosystems. It is a continuous process that has shaped the diversity of life on Earth over millions of years. From the oceans to the mountains, from tropical rainforests to polar regions, evolution has left its mark everywhere.

Mutation occurs at a rate of one for every ten million cell duplications. This is an insignificant number when compared to 100 trillion cells in a human body. Thus, the chance of having a couple of cells with a mutated form for every gene is possible without any noticeable effect. The reproduction system is a simple and powerful information system within the DNA molecule and it is a very stable system for transmitting that information. Mutations are very rare.

Researchers have by means of genetic breeding, changed a two-wing fruit fly into a four-wing fruit fly. The four-wing fruit fly consistently reproduces four-winged fruit flies. But although a new species has been produced, it is not a new "kind." The mutant fruit fly is still a fruit fly. As a matter of fact, the four-winged fruit fly is a weakened form. The second set of wings does not help the fruit fly; they actually get in the way. Its ability to take flight is dangerously hindered. Having been selectively bred in the laboratory, this species will also not survive without the caring assistance of researchers. This is a poor example of evolution by mutation. The bottom line is that mutations always weaken an organism and never change it into something else. The fruit fly remains a fruit fly.

Beneficial Mutations

Sickle Cell Anemia is often presented as an example of a favorable mutation. This is because red blood cells carry a sickle cell hemoglobin mutation that resists malaria. Although it resists malaria, 25 percent of those who have this mutant gene can still get the disease. Many have a hard time calling this a beneficial mutation when it brings with it a 25 percent chance of death. Sickle cell anemia causes a sickle shape hemoglobin molecule that bonds to another producing an enlarged molecular structure that cannot pass through the capillary walls. This condition occurs when the oxygen supply is low. How can a diseased hemoglobin molecule that was processed with incorrect information in the DNA be called a benefit to any body? This defect itself can kill a person.

No New Information

A basic information principle must be violated for evolution to be true. For an organism to evolve upward from simple to complex there must be an increase of genetic information. When mutations take place, however, there is an exchange of information or misinformation, but never an increase. The system is limited to what it has and therefore cannot create new codes. Most frequently, information exchange leads to a loss of information.

Apes to Humans?

An ape could, theoretically, mutate into a man by changing just one percent of his DNA. While the claim of a one percent DNA difference between man and ape is controversial and highly debatable, one might conclude, if we assume the claim to be true, that evolutionists have a point. One must remember, though, that all mutations have to be in exactly the same order as a human person's genome. It is estimated that one million mutations are required for every one percent difference. Moreover, all the mutations must occur exactly where the two genomes differ. How can one have a million mutations when each mutation has to be in the exact sequence to make a human? It's impossible. George Simpson, a well-known paleontologist and ardent evolutionist, estimated that it would take 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 chances to get five mutations in the exact order. Simpson concludes that simultaneous mutations as a process observed today had no part in evolution.

Because we adapt to long term environmental conditions only where it is required for us to survive as a species with small changes each generation and a generation can be a decade for humans. We can see minor changes going back to the 40's/50's.

It was once proposed, by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, that individual organisms might, through habit, acquire genetic traits that they would then pass on to offspring, so that they would genetically inherit the products of their ancestor's habit. Giraffes might for instance inherit a longer neck because of the habit of continuous stretching-of-the-neck that their parents developed to get at higher leaves.

But no evidence was ever found of this inheritance of acquired traits (although epigenetics do show something similar to this), and the hypothesis had to be abandoned in favour of Charles Darwin's thesis: that populations evolve because of natural selection acting on the inherited traits of individuals within the population; traits that only vary as they are passed from parent to offspring.

Organisms evolve in tandem with one's adaptions driving the evolution of the other organism. For instance, rabbits are variations and some rabbits are born very fast indeed and leave these traits to progeny. Now foxes are also variations and the fastest fox is the fox that catches the rabbit that is representative of the rabbit population. So, fast rabbits drive the evolution of fast foxes and conversely, foxes drive rabbit evolution. Until the physical constraints are met. This is a simplified explanation as there are many fox and rabbit traits under selection pressure at the same time.

Endosymbiosis is a theory that explains how prokaryotic cells evolved into eukaryotic cells by forming symbiotic relationships with other prokaryotic cells. This process led to the development of organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts within eukaryotic cells. Endosymbiosis helped eukaryotic cells gain new functions and capabilities, contributing to their complexity and diversity.

Population isolation refers to a situation in which certain members of a species are physically separated from the rest of the population, leading to limited gene flow between the groups. This can result in the development of unique genetic characteristics and eventual speciation.

Scientists did not prove things then anymore than they prove things now. Evidence, masses of converging evidence support the theory of evolution by natural selection. Darwin, in his day, had much evidence to support his theory. All the way from artificial selection to island biogeography. Since that time the theory has moved on to where it is no longer just Darwin's theory, but modified and supported with so much evidence that the theory became the bedrock of biology. Go here.

talkorigins.org

"In biology, form follows function means that the structure of an organism is closely related to its function or purpose. This principle applies to evolution because natural selection acts on the functional benefits of traits, shaping organisms' forms to better suit their environments and improve their chances of survival and reproduction."

An organism that is suited to its environment exhibits traits and characteristics that help it thrive in its surroundings. These traits could include adaptations like camouflage, protective coloration, mimicry, or specialized body structures that aid in survival, reproduction, or obtaining resources. Overall, an organism that is well-suited to its environment is able to effectively compete for resources, evade predators, and successfully reproduce, ensuring its continued survival.

There is overwhelming evidence in various scientific fields such as genetics, paleontology, comparative anatomy, and molecular biology that supports Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Fossil records show transitional forms, genetic similarities between related species, and observations of natural selection in action provide strong evidence for the theory. Additionally, the discovery of new species and their relationships through evolutionary relationships further supports Darwin's theory.

The important concepts emphasized in the evolution of man include natural selection, adaptation through time, shared ancestry with other species, and the fossil record as evidence of human evolution. Teachers highlight how genetic mutations lead to variation and how the environment influences which traits are passed on through generations, shaping the evolution of modern humans. They also emphasize the gradual changes in physical and behavioral characteristics that define human evolution over millions of years.

If all offspring could be supported comfortably by the available resources, then there would be less selection on fitness. Selection works, in part, because the limitations on available resources make it so that some offspring will be able to obtain more for themselves, and therefore produce more offspring themselves, than other variants.

Of course the limitation on resources isn't the only factor in selection. Predation and disease also feature importantly. And even if no overproduction of offspring exists in the population, those will still tend to reduce reproductive fitness in some variants.