What Is Evolution to me?

Hi all,

What I think evolution is, is the continuous changes organisms go through to help them be able to survive and adapt in an ever-changing world. These organisms need to make these continuous changes, or mutations, in order to survive long enough to be able to reproduce another generation. How I believe evolution works is by species (s) sharing a common ancestor. From this ancestor, they inherited certain genes in order to allow them to survive in the most efficient way for them. Slowly and over many centuries these species become so different from their common ancestor they are hardly recognizable. However, they are the fittest for whichever environment they pertain to. The way I see evolution as a key tool is by enhancing the survival of the fittest. It almost seems like one of those video games where you toss out things that won’t help you win, and trade them in for things that will. I think evolution can explain why birds have various sizes of beaks, and why humans need their ear hair. Simply to survive in this ever-changing world. Something that I think evolution cannot explain is why various species were even created in the first place. I mean we all have a purpose in this world, but I just can't seem to understand what in the world the benefits of having raccoons are, other than to scare the crap out of us when we hear the loud crash in the middle of the night. I believe that evolution is a fact not a theory. A fact is something that can be proven with evidence to back it up, most commonly comes in the form of a statement. On the other hand, a theory is an idea on a topic until there is evidence to back it up, where then it becomes a fact. For example, one may have asked something along the lines of “ perhaps a bee was created in order to allow the flowers to bloom and to provide honey as a natural sweetener.” Later finding evidence that shows that bees pollinate flowers, thus making the previous theory a fact. A hypothesis is a question that usually includes the two, part theory, part fact. We all came from somewhere, likely a common ancestor from billions of decades ago, this is a known fact. However why and where maybe more in the realm of theories and hypothesis. We cannot explain mutation without evolution, at least that is how I feel.

Thanks for reading

Comments

  1. Georgia KFebruary 1, 2021 at 2:54 PM

    Hi Emily,
    I thought you did a great job explaining the definition of evolution in your own words. I liked how you mentioned that from ancestors we inherited certain genes in order for us to survive in the most sufficient way. In my opinion, evolution is a theory and a fact. There is clear evidence that can be shown that species do change over time. We can clearly see that through paleontology, the study of fossils. In my opinion, to just label evolution as a fact, does rule out any other ideas or explanations that could have happened. There would be no need to go more in depth on research of evolution, but stating it is a theory can imply that there is still more research to be discovered. I can see why there is a big argument between the fact and theory of evolution, which is why I am excited to learn more about the subject.

    -Georgia Kohlhorst

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    Replies
    1. Emily GibsonFebruary 2, 2021 at 12:11 PM

      Hi Georgia,
      Thank you for bringing this to my attention! You are absolutely right, evolution is both. As there is always some gray area to be discovered! Just like other field of science there is never just one clear answer.

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  2. MichiFebruary 1, 2021 at 7:26 PM

    Hi Emily
    I don't know what you are talking about! Raccoons, the adorable trash pandas, have clearly evolved to bring great joy to my kids (aaaaw they look so cute) and my dogs (aaaaw they hiss so cute). Seriously though, it's important to understand that evolution has no purpose. It is not a guided process. Organisms don't exist for a reason other than they are descendents from a long line of other organisms that happened to survive rather than going extinct. Evolution is just the product of some individuals surviving and others not. We'll take a deep dive into that in module 2.
    Well done!
    Cheers, Michi

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  3. Amanda DrouhardFebruary 5, 2021 at 10:48 AM

    Hi Emily,
    I love the analogy you made of evolution being like a video game! That's such a perfect way to think about it; traits that no longer serve us will be lost while others that will better help us survive will be the ones we pick up and carry into future generations. It's strange to think about why certain organisms survived and some didn't (though I'm very happy raccoons did.) I guess it just so happened that everything played out in a way that allowed raccoons to evolve into what they are. If something different would've happened down the line, there would probably be a different creature in its place that is raccoon-esque.

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  4. Maddy SillerFebruary 5, 2021 at 7:44 PM

    Hi Emily,
    I like that you pointed out that evolution can't explain why so many different species were originally created. One of the things I find most interesting about evolution is seeing how different species are related and while there is evidence to show how fish evolved into amphibians, its a lot harder to image how the first invertebrates evolved and how that could have led to the first invertebrates.
    -Maddy

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