The Evolution Site
The concept of natural selection as the underlying principle of evolution is the unifying force in the field of modern biology. It connects disciplines such as genetics, microbiology, and Palaeontology.
However the study of evolutionary theory is often controversial, and the misinformation that results can confuse people regarding its basic concepts. This website helps to clarify essential concepts.
What is Evolution?
Modern evolutionary theory focuses on the gradual and cumulative changes that occur in populations over time. These changes are the result of natural selection. This is a process that increases the number organisms with beneficial traits, which enable them to thrive and reproduce in particular environments. These organisms produce more offspring because of the beneficial traits. This can cause a genetic change that may eventually result in new species.
에볼루션 코리아 " is usually associated with "survival-of-the best" which means that those who are more adjusted to certain conditions will have an advantage over those who are less well adapted. However it is only one of the many different ways that evolution can occur.
Another way of using the term "evolution" is to suggest that a species will progress from one state to the next. This view of evolution can be referred to as anagenetic, or cladogenesis. This is not backed by the scientific definition of evolution. The evolutionary theory that scientists have developed changes focuses on the changes that occur in populations over time. These changes are the result of mutations that result from natural selection and genomic variation.
Certain scientists, including the great Charles Darwin, advocated this view of evolution. Others, including Alfred Russel Wallace, who came up with the macroevolution theory believed that this was the only way that the higher forms of life could have evolved from the lower ones.
A concept must be able stand against rigorous tests and evidence to be considered a theory. Evolution has stood the test of time and has been supported in many scientific disciplines, from geology to biology, from astronomy to chemistry. Evolution is a cornerstone of science and is supported by the majority of scientists around the world. Many people are confused about the nature of the theory of evolution, especially how it relates to religion.
What is the Theory of Evolution?
Evolution is an explanation in science of how living things change over time. It is based on a few well-established facts: that many more offspring are produced than can be surviving and that different individuals have their physical characteristics and that they can pass on traits to the next generation. These findings are supported by the increasing amount of evidence from molecular biology, palaeontology climatology, functional morphology and geology.
Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace independently conceived the theory of evolution based on selection in the mid-19th century as a way to explain how organisms are adapted their physical and biological environments. It is currently the most well-supported and most widely tested theory in all of science. Its predictions have been borne out by the evidence that, for instance complex organisms are more likely to have fewer genetic mutations than simpler ones. Additionally the more successful an organism is in being able to reproduce and survive in its ability to reproduce, the more likely it is to pass on its genes to the next generation.
Some people oppose evolution because they believe it implies that there is no purpose for life. Many scientists who are religious like Cambridge Palaeontologist Simon Conway Morris (BioLogos, 2014) believe that evolution is compatible with faith in God and even enhanced by it.
Many highly skilled evolutionary biologists have been involved in constructing and testing the theory of evolution, including some respected evangelical Christian leaders. Many of them have contributed to the understanding of a wide variety of phenomena, including phylogenetics and genomics and the formation and function of fossils.
The term "theory", which is often misused refers to scientific hypothesis that has been tested and refined over a period of time. Scientists test their theories by repeating the experiments or observations that led to them. Thus, the theory of evolution has been repeatedly tested out and so have the theories of Copernican, germ and atomic theory.
What is the Process of Evolution?
The process of evolution is a gradual change in the proportions of genetically different individuals within a particular species over time. This is the result of the natural selection of individuals that are better adapted to their environment. The more adapted individuals have higher chances of reproduction and survival. As more of these individuals survive and reproduce their genes become more common in the population. This process is sometimes referred to as "survival of the fittest."
According to 에볼루션코리아 of evolution the mutations that cause genomic variation are the raw material for evolution. These mutations can occur randomly or under the influence of the environment. When mutations occur randomly and occur in a random manner, the frequency of the allele can vary from generation-to-generation. When a mutation is beneficial it increases the frequency of the allele, causing it to spread throughout the population.
These changes in allele frequency could lead to new species as time passes. The new species may develop further and evolve into newer forms. This is known as macroevolution. The formation of an entirely new species is typically caused by changes in the environment which provide certain types of resources available or create new environmental challenges. The evolution of finches in the Galapagos Islands, for example, is due to the availability of fresh food and the necessity to defend themselves from predators.
In a larger sense it is any change that takes place in the nature of organisms over time. The change could be subtle, such as the development of new colors or a dramatic change, such as the formation of an organ.
Scientists who believe in the theory of evolution generally recognize the importance of genetic change in the process that causes evolution. They also agree that the process of evolution occurs over a lengthy period of time, typically millions of years. They differ in the importance of various factors that may speed up or slow down the process. For instance the role played by sexual selection, environmental pressures, and mutation bias. Despite these differences scientists believe that evolution has occurred and that evidence for this is overwhelming.
What is the Evidence of Evolution?
Since Darwin's time, scientists have collected evidence to back his theory of evolution. A portion of this evidence comes from fossils which show the changing characteristics of living things over time. Similarities between living and non-living organisms as well as embryology, biogeography, and genetics are evidence.
The most important proof of evolution is found in the evolutionary tree, which illustrates how species are related. Another way to prove it is homologous structures, which have a similar structure in different species but perform distinct functions, such as the wings of bats and birds. The fact that different species develop and adapt to a similar environment is another sign of evolution. For instance, arctic-foxes and ptarmigans have seasonal white pelts that blend in with snow and ice. This is a kind of convergent evolutionary process which suggests that the species share ancestral ancestors.
Vestigial structures are another piece of evidence. These are a part of an organism that could have served a purpose in the past. For instance the human appendix is remnants of an earlier organ used to digest food. These structures tend to shrink in size once they are no longer used, a process known as natural selection.
Scientists have also collected evidence for evolution by observing and testing. The evidence for evolution can be divided into six different categories: directly observable changes at a smaller scale, biogeographic distributions, comparative anatomies fossil records and genetics. Each of these provides convincing evidence that the evolution of life took place.
Although many people have misconceptions about the theory of evolution It is an established fact. It isn't only a theory, it is a mighty collection of decades of research and observation that has been tested and proven. No matter what people believe or deny about the theory of evolution scientists continue to research and gather new information in order to further know the story of life on Earth. This information will aid scientists better understand how to prevent future global catastrophes and also how to make the most of our planet's resources. This information will also help us better meet the needs and desires of the people living on our planet.