Evolution Final

Evolution is the theory that things change, aka evolve, over time. There are two different parts of evolution: macro evolution and micro evolution. Macro evolution involves the change of one species into another, for example dinosaurs becoming birds. It's impossible to witness macro evolution as it takes millions of years to occur. Micro evolution however you can see within a day in some cases as it is simply a species adapting to its environment.

Transitional species are one thing that scientists use to prove macro evolution; these transitional species are supposed to link the beginning and end resulting creatures. For example, the archaeopteryx is thought to be a 'transitional species' between dinosaurs and birds because it shows traits from both. Homologous structures are another thing that is used to prove evolution, it is thought that since we have similar bone structures we all originally came from the same common ancestor. Vestigial structures are also used as proof for evolution because it is thought that although we don't currently have any use for them we must have had a use for them in the past or else they wouldn't be there. Yet another thing that is used as proof for evolution is the similarity in DNA between all living creatures. It is thought that the least difference between the DNA the more closely related.

Natural selection plays a huge role in Evolution, it's basically the whole basis of it. So how it works through a sequence of mutations in the genetic structure of a species different variations have occurred within the species. So when the environment changes these variations enable the specie to adapt better or worse with the change, the ones that adapt best obviously are more likely to live and reproduce passing these favorable traits onto their offspring while the ones that are less able to adapt are less likely to survive. Over time this causes a change in the population to more of the favorable traits and much fewer of the less adaptable traits.

There is proof with DNA that random mutations do occur. This then is related to evolution because for example since 96% of human and chimp DNA are similar people assume that the other 4% is accounted for by the mutations over time.

I don't believe that humans and chimps evolved from a common ancestor. I think that the evidence that so far has been presented is inconclusive to proving this and that if it was real people wouldn't have to tamper with the evidence such as skulls and hip bones to prove it. The evidence would already be there without needing to be modified.

Evolution 9

It was very helpful to do the project researching the way diseases become resistant to drugs because it demonstrated both micro evolution AND natural selection :) It really was nice to get to watch all of the presentations because everybody took different takes on the project even if they had the same subject. Watching the bugs presentations just helped to remind me that these theories apply to everything! Like, you don't see a bug usually and think hmmm they evolved so that they can do this or that it's hard to think that things aren't always the way they are now. It makes it interesting to think about the future, what will evolve next?

Evolution 8

It was interesting to see in the video the real life natural selection involving Malaria in Africa. This more than anything else I think really helped me to understand how natural selection works, where the allele that gives the advantage obviously eventually leads to more of that allele. I'd understood that before, however I had always connected it directly with macro evolution. F.or some reason I had always thought of the trait that gives the species an advantage as having to be one of new information. This however is not accurate, the advantage itself is caused by a change in the environment, like everything else with evolution.

Evolution 7

The presentations in class really demonstrated what we talked about at the beginning of the class, that science is all about perspectives. All of us were given the same assignment and the same basic resources and themes but no two presentations were alike, we all had different opinions and ideas about the stuff that we had looked at. This is especially relevant to evolution because what one person sees as proof of evolution, like the likeness of species, another can see as proof of one creator. It was also neat to see stuff like that the supposed transition species for birds from dinosaurs existed at the same time as birds because it makes you think: what other theories will be disproved in the future? It may be that there's answers and proof to all of our questions, we just haven't found them yet.

Evolution 6

So this project has really helped me to further understand the different aspects of evolution since we actually have to look stuff up to put it in. I had no idea about homologous structures and that because the bone structure and stuff's sorta the same they say we're related to cats.. weird. I think vestigials are sort of nifty :) because like I think it's interesting anyways how your hair can change from summer to winter and we can see that ourselves. Like in winter I don't know I think the hair on your arms seems to get like thicker? I don't really know but it's interesting to think about :)

Evolution:5

The archaeopteryx was interesting and really got me thinking about transitional species, it makes more sense now. So like, I'd always thought that like on the family tree thing that Humans and Chimps were on the same branch thing..but I guess not. And like, i don't know, I've always thought of evolution like that as one continuous line of stuff that evolves when really it's not; there's a lot of different branches. If evolution is in fact true, which I'm still not sure about, then it's interesting to wonder theoretically what humans would evolve to next. It makes me think of X-men, where there's a mutant strain of DNA which gives them all like super powers and stuff. What I want to know, is do evolutionists believe that stuff like that could actually happen in the future?

Evolution: 4

The activity with the dots really made me understand natural selection better because it was visual. It helped to differentiate natural selection and evolution. It also helped to show that other factors such as environment and location also play a huge role in extinction of species. It would have been neat to somehow have the things that were being hunted as something other than dots..but I'm not sure what, just because it would make the information seem more relatable.

Numero 3

So the burgess shale really made me think because I mean it was found not that long ago and it was a big deal! The guy that found it found it by accident in a place where people go by all the time, so who knows how many other sites there are that are like that which we just haven't found yet! The burgess shale changed how we looked at stuff because it uncovered so many new and complex species, so maybe in the next couple of years they'll find something that will upturn everything we think we know! It just really opens up the possibilities :)

Evolution: input 2

Alright so, I always forget about how things haven't always been like they are now. I mean, I know that obviously but it's hard to remember in everyday life: "oh, the dinosaurs used to walk here." This project really helped that click for me, because there have been SO many different species and things that aren't here any longer. It just makes you stop and think, we could have a mass extinction..and maybe in the future some creatures will look back and say "I wonder what caused the mass extinction of humans." It's a weird thought but it helps to keep things in perspective. I didn't know anything about evolution really, I knew creationism vs evolution but that's about it. I had no idea about micro-evolution, well I did but I didn't know that it was considered evolution. Evolution is a much bigger picture than I always thought it was and I'm interested to find out more.

Week 1

Evolution is when one species changes, or evolves, ino something different. It's believed for example that humans evolved from monkeys. I'm not sure how I feel about evolution, I think as of right now that I don't believe in it but I realize that I don't know enough about it to really have an opinion. I would like to know what some OTHER evolution ideas are, besides dinosaurs into birds and monkeys into humans.