Life must have begun with a simple molecule that could reproduce itself – and now we think we know how to make one 4 BILLION years before present: the surface of a newly formed planet around a medium-sized star is beginning to cool down. It’s a violent place, bombarded by meteorites and riven by volcanic…
Kategori: Evolution in English
Hominid Species
Hominid or hominin? Some scientists use a broader definition of Hominidae which includes the great apes, and instead call the group I am discussing “hominins”. For a good discussion of the hominid/hominin terminology issue, read this article by Lee Berger. Sahelanthropus tchadensis Orrorin tugenensis Ardipithecus ramidus Australopithecus anamensis Australopithecus afarensis Kenyanthropus platyops Australopithecus africanus Australopithecus garhi Australopithecus…
What is evolution?
1. What is evolution? Biological evolution refers to the cumulative changes that occur in a population over time. These changes are produced at the genetic level as organisms’ genes mutate and/or recombine in different ways during reproduction and are passed on to future generations. Sometimes, individuals inherit new characteristics that give them a survival and…
Evolution Of The Sexes: What A Fungus Can Tell Us
Fungi don’t exactly come in boy and girl varieties, but they do have sex differences. In fact, a new finding from Duke University Medical Center shows that some of the earliest evolved forms of fungus contain clues to how the sexes evolved in higher animals, including that distant cousin of fungus, the human. A pseudophore…
Evolution myths: Creationism is a coherent alternative to evolution
The only thing that creationists agree on is that they don’t like evolution. Even Genesis gives two contradictory accounts of creation If someone tells you that creationism provides a better explanation for life on Earth than the theory of evolution, ask them which version of creationism. Among creationists, there is an extraordinary range of beliefs about how…
Evolution myths: Evolution is limitlessly creative
It might seem like there is no end to nature’s inventiveness but there are some features that could probably never evolve, at least on Earth It often seems that nature invented pretty much everything that can be invented long before humans arrived on the scene – including the wheel, kind of. There is a salamander living in the…
Evolution myths: ‘Survival of the fittest’ justifies ‘everyone for themselves’
The “fittest” can be the most loving and selfless, not the most aggressive and violent. In any case, what happens in nature does not justify people behaving in the same way The phrase “survival of the fittest“, which was coined not by Darwin but by the philosopher Herbert Spencer, is widely misunderstood. For starters, there is a lot…
Evolution myths: It doesn’t matter if people do not understand evolution
At an individual level, it might not matter much. However, any modern society which bases major decisions on superstition rather than reality is heading for disaster So your brother or mother is a creationist. Let them believe what they want, you might think. After all, it makes family get-togethers a lot easier and no difference to…
Evolution myths: Evolution promotes the survival of species
In fact, evolution sometimes results in individuals or populations becoming less fit and may occasionally even lead to extinction. The phrase “survival of fittest” is widely misunderstood (see ‘Survival of the fittest’ justifies everyone for themselves). Many wrongly assume it means that evolution always increases the chances of a species surviving. There are several ways in which…
Evolution myths: Evolution produces perfectly adapted creatures
You don’t have to be perfectly adapted to survive, you just have to be as well adapted as your competitors. The apparent perfection of plants and animals may be more a reflection of our poor imaginations than of reality. It’s a theme repeated endlessly in wildlife documentaries. Again and again we are told how perfectly…
Evolution myths: Natural selection leads to ever greater complexity
In fact, natural selection often leads to ever greater simplicity. And, in many cases, complexity may initially arise when selection is weak or absent. If you don’t use it, you tend to lose it. Evolution often takes away rather than adding. For instance, cave fish lose their eyes, while parasites like tapewormslose their guts. Such simplification might be much…
Evolution myths: Natural selection is the only means of evolution
Much change is due to random genetic drift rather than positive selection. It could be called the survival of the luckiest. Take a look in the mirror. The face you see is rather different to that of a Neanderthal. Why? The unflattering answer could be for no other reason than random genetic drift. With features…
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