Charles Darwin 's Theory Of Evolution

Evolution represents the biological timeline between all living things around the world. This idea or theory of evolution is called Darwinism. The idea of evolution was first published in a book called On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. The theory of evolution greatly contradicts the idea of creationism in religion that all living

Although Darwin’s (1809-1882) work in evolutionary observation might appear radically different from those focused on other areas, the theories he developed from these observation lead to such groundbreaking publishing’s as The Origin of Species. These intern caused an upset within the then accepted norms of philosophy and religion, had a profound impact on the academia, and further

Upon his return to London Darwin concluded thorough research of his notes and specimens many ideas. Out of this study grew several related theories: one, evolution did occur, two, evolutionary change was gradual, requiring thousands to millions of years, three, the primary mechanism for evolution was a process called natural selection, and four, the millions of species alive today arose from a single original life form through a branching process called "specialization."

According to our text species of living things are related in some fashion similar to a branching tree. However the process is not quite that simple adaption relies on several processes and to prove this or the

Comparative anatomy provides clues of a common ancestor if the structure in the animals are similar. For example, the forelimbs of animals, specifically humans, whales, dogs, and bats, have structures that are similar. The number of bones are the same, but they have different functions (such as walking for humans and flying for bats). Using the comparison of the forelimbs of certain mammals, comparative anatomy provides scientists with indication that those specific mammals may have come from a common evolutionary ancestor. Besides the similarities of structures in different species, vestigial structures are structures that have diminished in size or usefulness and an example is producing Vitamin C from the enzyme L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase. Most mammals have this gene that produces the enzyme that makes Vitamin C from their bodies. Humans have a defective copy of that gene, thus humans cannot make Vitamin C by themselves. From this example, comparing the anatomy of different mammals demonstrated that some structures might have changed through the process of evolution or they might not be deemed “useful” for certain species. Molecular Biology provides support of evolution by examining the DNA and protein sequences of animals to see if the sequences are similar or different. If the sequences are similar, the animals would most likely be related, and unrelated if the sequences were to differ greatly. An example is distinction between Protostomia and Deuterostomia. (The distinction is based on origin of mouth during embryo formation.) Humans are deuterostomes; meaning their mouth is developed separately from the blastopore and are not related to flies or worms because they are both protostomes. Thus, flies and worms are more related to each other than to humans. Understanding molecular biology,

Darwin’s first theory of evolution first formulated in 1859, by which the organisms changed over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behaviour traits. Changes allows the organism to better adapt to its environment will help it survive

The Darwinian view of life came into focus in 1859, when he published one of the most important books called “ On the Origin of Species by Mean of Natural Selection”. Back in Darwin’s time in the 19th century historians were being to think of evolutionary change as an explanation for patterns observed in the future. He did not invent this idea however he carried out the necessary research to document the idea. He made this book to make two valid points, “descent and modification” and “process natural selection”. Descent and modification described the evidence and support that he gathered about species. “It is an insightful phrase, as it captures the duality of life’s unity (descent) and diversity (modification).” Simon, Eric J., Jane Reece,

Evolution is described in many different ways, from a gradual development in social or economic structure, to a change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation. These definitions tell people that evolution is diverse and depending on the context, it can mean completely different things. For example a change in a gene pool can be very beneficial especially when concerning genes that cause certain immunities to specific illnesses. But it can also mean that a young child has evolved from his/her shy personality and is now a very outgoing person. Scientists such as Charles Darwin, Charles Lyell, and Jean Baptiste Lamarck have theorised and searched for information about evolution and given provided the population of the world with large amounts of knowledge.

The evolution theory, one of the most significant theories, laid groundwork for the study of modern biological science. This theory has lead scientists into unending debates due to lack of empirical supports. Until the mid-eighteenth century, when Charles Darwin came up with an explanation to evolution, scientists, then, began to endorse this hypothesis. In “Natural Selection,” Darwin explains the natural selection, a plausible mechanism that causes evolution, to gain approval of his cynical audience for his evolution theory. He supports his claim with numerous examples of animals and plants that have developed traits beneficial for survival. A century later, Stephen Jay Gould, influenced by Darwin’s work, supports the evolution theory

In the year 1859, Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution. This theory states that all forms of life adapts and changes to the environment around them. The evolutionary theory has been used for decades and has been proven to be correct and accurate theory. Or is it? Many scientists are trying to disprove his theory years later with their evidence behind genetic inheritance, not through adaptation as Darwin had believed. However, some may still believe Darwin’s theory is still relevant to our time and for the future as well.

The phylogenetic tree is also known as the evolutionary tree. As the name suggests, it represents the relationship of evolution in different animal species of animal that are represented in a tree-like diagram or branching diagram. The taxa that are drawn into diagram are according to their differences and similarities in their genetic and physical materials. The animal that is seen today is at the tip of the tree is the modern animal. The tree is often branched out from a common ancestor into various species because of gene mutation or environmental factor. Animals with common descendants have similar trait among them, and this is referred as homology that can be in the structure like gene sequence.

Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace like so many of their predecessors made observations of natural phenomena that inspired proposals of how life on earth evolved, unlike others these men formed plausible explanations of how the changes in populations occurred without having any knowledge of Mendelian genetics which was presented in 1868, and provided the micro-mechanism for evolution that Darwin could never explain with his theory of Pangenesis. Rather, based solely on the observations each made over time observing different species of populations around the world, both men were able to pen the ideals that would serve as the foundation of the modern theory of evolution.

Many scientists believe variations are caused by environmental factors, such as food availability, weather and more; and that species evolve when environmental conditions change to increase the species survival. Darwin censures this idea; he believed that the main cause of variation is due to reproduction (Chapter I). Darwin suggested that parents pass down specific characteristics to their offspring, and those variations are continued on in the following generations. The problem with Darwin’s theory of reproduction is that Darwin did not comprehend how or why some characteristics are perennial and how others are not. Darwin’s inferences on variations also conflict with the idea that God created species independently, which was widely understood by many people in a time where religion was prominent (Chapter II).

During the time when Charles Darwin was alive (1809-1882) most of the Western culture believed that the world was created by God and only several thousand years old. They believed that our world was always like it was then. So when Darwin wrote The Origin of Species it shook up both the cultural and scientific views of his time. His views that evolution occurs by natural selection was one of the most radial theories during his time, yet today is widely accepted as a fact among most of the world.

Starting over 500 years ago with Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Francis Bacon, and Isaac Newton paving the way for the possibility of new scientific exploration into studies such as “stratigraphy, the study of the rock and soil layers of the earth” by Robert Hooke and Carolus Linnaeus’ study of taxonomy, “the system of naming and classifying organisms” based on morphological similarities and differences, humanity would begin to uncrack the code of where life came from in a nonbiblical sense. (Fuentes, 26) Further studies by George-Louis Leclerc – Comte du Buffon, Erasmus Darwin (Charles’ grandfather), Georges Cuvier, James Hutton and Charles Lyell as well as Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet – Chevalier de Lamarck’s studies in which he “correctly identified the environment as a challenge to organisms and adaptation as the result of changing to meet environmental challenges” helped prompt the formulation of the current understanding of evolution by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace each in their own special way.