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.