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Evolution is the Process by which organisms change over successive generations through the inheritance of new traits. During sexual reproduction, a complete set of DNA is donated from each parent organism. These two complete sets of DNA then mix together to create an entirely new set, discarding the remaining, giving rise to a new organism with a completely independent set of DNA. During the process, minor changes can occur in the makeup of the DNA, called mutations. These changes are the result of randomness, or chance mistakes which just happen to occur. Sometimes these mutations cause new traits to appear in the particular organism. If a new trait assists the organism in it's survival, then the organism will survive longer, reproduce more, and pass this particular trait along to more offspring. This is called "Natural Selection," it is nature selecting for the best new traits through survival. Sometimes new traits simply occur over time that are not survival mechanisms, but simply the result...
For instance, changes in the sizes of certain anatomical features like horns, ears, or tails. When this occurs it is called "Genetic Drift."
The process of evolution is often said to work through Natural Selection, or in other words, the trait which aids survival in nature is what gets selected and passed on to succeeding generations. Over many generations these traits accumulate to cause changes in the organism; this is Evolution. An example can be made in the case of wolves, Canis lupus, as they spread around the world these animals developed different traits for survival in different environments. As a result, in nature, there are currently many different species of wolves which can trace their evolution back to a single source. (Vila, 1997) When humans interfere in this process, when they decide which traits will be chosen to be passed on to successive generations, then it is called "Domestication." (Morey, 1994)
When it came to the…
References
Driscoll, Carlos. (2009) The Evolution of House Cats. Scientific American. Retrieved from Science News, Articles and Information| Scientific American.
Honeycutt, Rodney, (2010). Unraveling the Mysteries of Dog Evolution. BMC Biology, 8 (20), Retrieved from Academic Onefile.
Morey, Davcey. (1994). The Early Evolution of the Domesticated Dog. American Scientist, 82 (4), Retrieved from Academic Onefile.
Vila C, et al., (1997). Multiple and Ancient Origins of the Domesticated Dog. Science 276, 1687-89, Retrieved from Academic Onefile.
Organism Physiology Evolution of Organisms For millions of years earth has gone under tremendous changes. This rapid change in environment, landscape and temperature alters the intact system and for surviving this change, a steady modification in living organisms occurs for adaption to surrounding environment. This change is never over night nor does it occur suddenly in newborns, it takes generations to evolve a new feature or characteristic. This adaption is not only
Evolution "Creational critics often charge that evolution cannot be tested, and therefore cannot be viewed as properly scientific subject at all. This claim is rhetorical nonsense" (Stephen Jay Gould). Human life is both sacred and mysterious. From time before recorded history, human beings, both scientific and religious have tried to determine what it is exactly that gives life and by extension, can take life away. In ancient times, most people believed that
EVOLUTION What is evolutionary theory and what are causes of evolution and the evidence of evolution? The term 'evolution' evokes varied connotations. In simple and direct terms it is a process of change or development over a long period of time. Defined so, evolution can refer to any phenomena-- evolution of universe, evolution of human culture etc. -- that change over a period of time. However, in common parlance, evolution refers to
Evolution vs. Creationism Biological evolution or evolutionary biology is genetic change in a population occurring from generation to another (O'Neill 2002). All life forms evolve and continue evolving from earlier species, and these life forms include human beings. Most biological scientists concur that the earliest life forms on earth evolved from chance natural occurrences 3 1/5 to 4 billion years ago. They agree that evidence for evolution comes from fossil records
In conclusion, perhaps we should heed the words of Charles Darwin himself who before his historic voyage aboard the H.M.S. Beagle between 1831 and 1836 was a devout Christian and creationist -- "There is a grandeur in this view of life. Whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and
Evolution in Science Fiction The idea of evolution is an inevitable process that any "living" being undergoes in order to adapt and survive in one's environment. Charles Darwin's "survival of the fittest" theory in evolution becomes a major thematic display within the world of science fiction. By analyzing Steven Johnson's "The Myth of the Ant Queen," one can increase one's comprehension regarding science fiction writing and the aspect of evolution. Johnson's "The