Natural Selection Experience

The recent outbreak of measles in the United States can be blamed on the fact that many people are refusing to have their children vaccinated against the disease. The refusal of this vaccination seems to stem from fear of what the vaccine might cause. Whether the vaccine does or doesn’t cause Autism should not matter at this point because a world-wide Measles outbreak would be more detrimental than any case of Autism.

In the modern world, mankind is surrounding by a plethora of unique animals, plants, and other organism that have a certain natural design all their own. For instance, every organism appears to be best suited in their natural environment, as they are usually able thrive under unique conditions that may not optimal for every organism. Thus, it would appear as though divine intervention was necessary for this perfect design and placement of an organism into their environment. Consequently, this was the ideology for many centuries until Charles Darwin explained how these “illusions” fit into his theory of natural selection. Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection stated that the process by which forms of life having traits that better enable them to adapt to specific environmental pressures, such as predators, changes in climate, or competition for food or mates, will tend to survive and reproduce in greater numbers than others of their kind, thus ensuring the perpetuation of those favorable traits in succeeding generations (Cite). Although it is widely accepted that many of human’s physical traits are inherited from their parents, the notion that the mind has evolved and is designed to function is certain ways is still controversial (Cite). With that being said, the majority of theories that illustrate how the mind develops are still being debated. Moreover, the

Natural selection is the process in which heritable traits that make it more likely for organisms to survive and successfully reproduce become more common in a population over successive generations. Each of us individuals is specifically shaped and formed by our own genetic pattern. We inherit this pattern half from are mother and half from are father. The cause of this is the proximate cause that led it’s phenotype to ultimate causes. Much of we know today about evolution derives from the late great pioneer, Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin was an english naturalist that even from an early age was very interested in outdoor pursuits. Early in his prep career his father tried sending him to the University of Edinburg to pursue his medical

For more than 150 years, a revolutionary idea has been spreading all over the world. It helped us discover our origins and revealed our place in nature. It led to the unification of once independent fields of scientific inquiry. And it is being used today to tackle some of the most pressing problems facing modern civilization. But its implications go far beyond science. It has shaped our culture, politics, philosophy and religion, and it has been used to justify war and genocide. That idea is Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.

In chapter three, the author points out the weaknesses in advancement worldview. The epistemological problem in advancement, which is based on biological evolution and considers the mind as a “merely biological product” (37), is the first and perhaps the foremost problem for particular this view. “If naturalism is a proper description of reality, man’s mind could not be truly free to look at biological facts objectively” (38). The author compares the traditional and modern theories of knowledge and highlights the loss of freedom and the loss of truth. Bush strongly criticizes predetermination.

There was a time in history when nearly all children in America had contracted the measles virus before the age of 16. This was in the decade before 1963. During this time, each year an estimated three to four million people in the United States were infected, with 48,000 hospitalized, and 400-500 fatalities. In 1963 the measles virus vaccine was licensed in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Today, the notoriously rampant measles virus is almost unheard of. Measles is one of many diseases that have been prevented, or eradicated by the use of vaccines. Today many of America’s most infamous diseases such as Measles, Hepatitis A, Mumps, and Pertussis have seen a greater than 85% decrease in reported contractions since the pre-vaccine era, and the Smallpox virus has been completely eradicated (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Despite all of the remarkable statistics proving the effectiveness of vaccines, today’s anti-vaccine movement is making strong waves upon society.

Chapter 7 revolves around beginnings of human research into the idea of evolution and an introduction of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. This chapter has given us, as students, more knowledge and insight into the topic of evolution. Since we were little kids, we always thought of evolution as the theory that establishes the link between humans and monkeys or that the phrase “Survival of the fittest” meant that the strongest always prevailed over the weak. However, this chapter has given us more detailed knowledge and background information about evolution, allowing us to lift these rumors and myths from our minds.

What is natural selection? Natural selection whether or not people ever think about it, is what has brought everyone to where they are today. There are three main types of natural selection as read in the article (Natural Selection) at Berkley. With these types come particulate heredity along with variation of traits, and differential in reproduction. Because of these, people are very reliant upon nature. Therefore people do not only have a spiritual, but physical relationship with nature.

For hundreds of years, vaccines have been preventing dangerous and deadly diseases such as polio, the measles, hepatitis, and more. However, as long as there have been vaccines, there has been strong opposition to their use. Perhaps the most common belief is that vaccines—specifically the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, is tied to an increased risk of autism. Media coverage, based on inaccurate evidence and disproved by scientific studies, has led to a large public fear that autism can be caused by vaccines. These beliefs stem primarily from a 1998 publication by British doctor Andrew Wakefield; yet even after this paper was deemed inaccurate, these fears did not recede, and have only seemed to become more prevalent in society.

Evolution is the inheritance of traits over generations. Originally, my view on evolution was that positive new traits are passed down from generation to generation. The importance of evolution is that it allows an individual to better survive using newly inherited traits. These traits aid in one’s overall fitness. To give an example, a type of bird may evolve to have longer wings if it will better allow them to survive in their environment. Throughout the Capstone course, I have learned about the different types of evolution, and why certain changes arise in different species. The Capstone paper has enabled me to research areas of evolution within the hominid species, which gave me a better understanding of the advantages and limitations of evolution. This position statement will discuss what I have learned about evolution while writing my final paper, and attending class lectures.

The process of natural selection, and the succession of the mutation are very slow, and occurs over hundreds of years. Intellectual evolution, instead is much quicker. When ideas are evolving, they are transformed from existing knowledge and prejudices of the community, through the invention and the discoveries of individuals thanks to technological advances as well as the basis of already existing knowledge; ideas become

In nature, natural selection, specifically, the survival of the fittest principle, allows species to thrive in their environment by modifying and choosing the best traits so that the species can continue to reproduce. The quote suggests that over time, knowledge changes in order to remain relevant while knowledge that does not change may become useless. How can we trust knowledge if it changes over time? While examining both natural science and mathematics, we will be able to see how both the knowledge within the disciplines are still reliable even though one area of knowledge constantly evolves while the other does not. Mathematics is more reliable as the results stay the same while the process may differ. Natural science may be less reliable because the results may be subject to change.

In chapter 2, the idea of evolution was discussed. The debate between genetics vs. the environment was also examined more in depth. When learning about evolution in this chapter, the topics of natural selection and adaptive behavior were taught. I agree with both of these concepts of evolution. I believe in the process of evolution; in that we evolve from other forms of life. Natural selection and adaptive behavior are very relevant matters in the development of humans. I do believe that organisms learn how to survive from their natural environments.

Among animals, evolution is the unstoppable natural course of progression through changing environmental pressures and time. For much of human history, man has been applying Darwin’s ideas of selection, choosing among stalks of plants and phenotypes of animals and selecting the best for the next generation. However, with the conception of On the Origin of Species in 1859, notions of natural selection, survival of the fittest, and evolution took on an entirely new interpretation in society. In fact, Darwin's On the Origin of Species is one of the most influential works in the history of human ideas, with its significance reaching far beyond natural science; it entirely altered the way that human beings view the world and themselves. Suddenly,

Examining various factors that influence populations, Mayr deduces that evolution itself depends on chance. His implications of the role of chance in the shaping of life make us reconsider our notions of knowledge of the surrounding world. If it is constantly transforming itself due to random events, can we get to know reality? Our inability to predict and forestall events undermines our confidence and feeling of safety. A fear of the unknown then emerges. Will we be able to adapt in response to the change in the environment? Will we muster enough courage to part with the past? Should we happen to fail, natural selection may act against us.