Evolution And Evolution Of Evolution

Fitness is determined by the ability of an organism to survive, grow, and reproduce in a particular habitat. You

There are many definitions of success when it comes to the evolution of living organisms: number, diversity, size, distribution, longevity, evolutionary history, generalization, specialization, even usefulness to humans. Throughout history, groups or individual species, have faced many challenges on Earth. All animals have adapted differently to the constantly altering living conditions. Some have been immensely superior to others in their ability to survive and rule all forms of life. Their complexity varies, but because of their ability to adapt, it’s what has made these species successful. Adaptation is an evolutionary process that allows animals to become superior in a particular

In what he called the ‘survival of the fittest’, Darwin suggested that through the process of natural selection animals with particular characteristics, as a result of possessing advantageous alleles, will survive. However, those with maladaptive genes cannot adapt to changes in environmental conditions, so will die or become extinct. Dowling (1994) stated that this process depends on three principles: species diversity, interaction and the spread of a species as a result of differential amplification. Sexual selection is another component of Darwin’s research, which explains the best strategies adopted for passing on genes to offspring. Moreover, there are problems with Darwin’s theory such as his attempts to generalise animal behaviour to the way in which humans interact in their environment. However, he has presented compelling evidence which is very scientific in its approach and methodology. Furthermore, contrary to Darwin’s evolutionary idea of survival of an individual, Dawkins (1976) suggested that the survival of the genes is more important.

Genetic diversity allows the population to adapt to changing environments and it contributes and adds to the gene pool.

If variation, differential reproduction and heredity is present, evolution through natural selection will be the outcome.

The factor that makes slightly changes between one individual to another is the mutation. It is said that mutation occurs randomly and with no control, and by this the natural selection happens, and the individuals more suitable to the environment passes the genes, and the mutation that guaranteed the survival is going to operate in the next generation, and it keeps happening.

Evolution is the process of biological change by which descendants come to differ from their ancestors. Natural Selection is when an individual with the best trait survive and breed in more population. Larger populations of organisms with the desired traits will then occur and organisms will evolve. The four principles of Natural Selection are variation, over production, adaptation, and descent with modification. Charles Darwin, an English naturalist and geologist saw two major trends within organisms which were variation and adaptation. Variations are differences in individuals’ physical traits compared to other individuals. In the Galapagos Islands Darwin noticed that finches had different beak sizes and shapes. Darwin then concluded that finches with thicker beaks lived in areas where nuts were the main food source and finches with smaller beaks tended to live in areas where insects were the main food source. Adaptation are features that allow an organism to better survive in their environment. There has been many adaptations in animals but one of the best has been living in groups because animals can then “help each other find food, defend against predators and care for their young” (animalpanet, n.d.). Overproduction is when organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support. Darwin stated that all animals over produce since offspring can reach reproduction age and have offspring of their own. For example, “even a slow breeder

Genetic diversity provides a species with its form and function. A species genotype refers to their genetic code; what their cells are going to be used for – hair cell, eye cell, muscle cell, etc. A species phonotype refers to the way in which that species gene will be expressed – blonde hair, blue eyes, large muscle tone; which significantly impacts the success of that individuals genes. Without genetic diversity among populations the gene pools would be very limited, which gives way to a rise in mutations and inevitably the end of a species. “Genes regulate body size, shape,

With the seemingly unstoppable growth of the world’s population and a projected global population of nine billion by 2050, the matter of whether or not there will be enough food to support the world’s populace is brought into question (Parfitt, et al., 2010). However, amid the concern for an adequate food supply, there is an immense amount of food waste produced by the world, including the United States. In fact, “according to the Natural Resources Defense Council as much as 40 percent of all food produced in the United States never gets eaten and typically ends up in the landfills or goes unharvested in the field “(King, 2015).

Earth as we all know it's Associate in Nursing improbably complicated and fragile network of interconnected systems that have developed slowly over the last four.5 billion years more or less. From the ashes of the massive Bang, this planet emerged as a mass of energy and components. From that new born mass of energy and components evolved structured, dynamic systems of solids, liquids, and gasses. The evolution of this planet continued to unfold over billions of years in such a novel method that eventually conditions arose with the flexibility to foster life.

Depression is defined by the DSM-IV as a mental disorder characterized by sustained depression of mood, anhedonia, sleep and appetite disturbances, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and hopelessness. Depressive symptoms such as the mere inability to experience pleasure and loss of energy persisting for longer than two weeks are usually enough to indicate an affective disorder (Hirschfeld 2014). There are significant variations in presentations and diagnosis criteria, but regardless of the classification of depressive states (Major (Unipolar), Bipolar, Dysthymia, Atypical, SAD, Postpartum), it is agreed upon that pharmacological interventions are sometimes required: to alleviate debilitating symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life. The interest in depression medications reflects the gravity of the disease i.e. its ability to psychologically impair lives and lead to suicide.

Generally speaking, there are numerous issues related to genetic diversity which include mutations, sexual reproduction, migration, and population size.

Evolution is the modification of characteristics of living organisms over generations (StrangeScience.net, 2015); it is the gradual process of development by which the present diversity of living organisms arose from the earliest forms of life, which is believed to have been ongoing for at least the past 3000 million years (Hine, 2004). Common ancestry are groups of living organisms that share the most recent common ancestor, by which scientific evidence proves that all life on Earth are descendants from the previous universal ancestor (DarwinWasRight.org, 2015). Additionally, opposing theories against Evolution, primarily the Christianity religion, explain that God is the ‘creator’ and is the source of all existence.

Let’s face it! Stress is… well, stressful! Stress is also a part of life. So, life is stressful… some parts of life are more stressful than others. What is stress? “Stress refers to a physiological reaction to the body that overstimulates the adrenal glands, resulting in the overproduction of body stress steroid hormones such as cortisol and stress neurochemicals such as adrenaline. Among other things, these body stress biochemicals increase blood pressure and change blood flow, heart reactivity, urinary and bowel function, breathing rate, body temperature, perspiration, tremor, memory, and attention. Stress hormones are meant to be released only briefly in times of stress. However, modern life stresses are often constant. When stress steroids are present continuously in high concentrations, they produce permanent, unhealthy changes in the body and brain. Some studies have even shown that steroid hormones can kill brain cells when present at high levels for a prolonged period of time.” Where does stress originate? Stress can come from families, children, marriage, money, school, friends, change of residence, jobs, bosses, health issues… the list could go on and on. Stress affects different people in different ways and some people are more affected by stress than others. A particular demographic population of people that typically experience higher stress levels differently than others, would be those individuals who struggle with bipolar disorder. Because BD is a

“If no such variations exist, the population rapidly goes extinct because it cannot adapt to a changing environment” (O’Neil, 1998-2013). Scientists call this reproductive success. “Within a specific environment context, one genotype will be better than another genotype in survival or reproduction for certain reasons having to do with the way its particular features relate to the environment or relate to other organisms within the population” (Futuyma, 2000-2014). The theory of evolution is explicable through various kinds of scientific research.