What is Evolution? Evolutionary biology is the study of how reproductive forces and environmental changes lead to changes in traits that produce a species. Evolution is also known as the accumulation of adaptive evolution, the accumulation of differences in characters across various lineages without any noticeable transitional features, or adaptive radiation, where genetic variation and selection lead to differences in quantitative traits without changes in qualitative traits. The other names for Evolution are Natural Selection, Population Genetics, and Gene Cloning.
The Theory of Evolution is one of the major theories of science concerning the origin and evolution of living things. This theory states that all major classes of animals are descended from a common ancestor. The hypothesis therefore is that these ancestors developed such features as ears, eyes, hair, and other traits by means of changes in their gene pools during the course of evolution. This is commonly referred to as the Genealogy theory of evolution.
The major problem with this theory is that it does not provide solid proof or evidence to support it. Most scientists believe that biological evolution is nothing more than the gradual increase of dominant genetic instructions. For instance, over millions of years, different species of plants and animals have slowly been evolving towards the appearance of greater complexity. Evidence for adaptive change can be found throughout the history of all life, including the evolution of the species of human beings.
Another major problem with the theory of evolution is that it cannot be tested directly by science due to the difficulty in finding fossils to study. Evidence for the theory of evolution can only be found through fossils. Fossils are found in rocks. These fossils are dated using radioactive substances and found to be millions of years old. Carbon dating is the most accurate way to determine a specific age for any fossil.
Charles Darwin’s grandfather was a paleontologist who created the Theory of Natural Selection. He believed that all species were “ancestor of all others”. Species differ from one another because they can interbreed, which will then cause variation in their physical appearance and behavioral patterns. The Theory of Natural Selection states that in order for the species to survive and thrive, genetic differences between various species must be fixed through natural selection over time. This is the basis of natural selection.
Charles Darwin’s father and grandfather were both stout and small in stature for their time. It is possible that these observations influenced the young Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Many experts believe that the disparity in size between the parents of a species could be caused by a factor called the R gene. This factor decreases in both size and number with each generation and is one of the theories that can explain differences in height between humans and their close relatives.
The other major problem with the theory of evolution is that it does not explain why some organisms change while others do not. It is possible that, for instance, whales did not experience a rapid population increase but remained relatively stable species. In fact, the last great whale to live on earth was a very small creature. The fossil record does not indicate any large-brained creatures evolving into a medium-sized creature over thousands of generations. On the other hand, the molecular biology research has recently revealed that certain animals such as whales have adapted to specific genes that allowed them to survive better in cold environments and hunt at night. Evidence of such genes has been found on ancient bones.
So, is there a scientific explanation to the existence of life on earth? The answer most scientists can give is “no”. Evolution is simply the study of how living organisms and their traits change over time. To give an accurate scientific description of this process, we must use the best scientific methods and the fossils we find to back up our claims.