Evolution

The definition of evolution is the change over time in one or more inherited traits found in populations of organisms. Some different theory’s of evolution are from Charles Darwin and Lamarck. Charles Darwin’s theory is natural selection. Natural selection is when a species has to change in order to survive. Whether its change in environment, or struggle for existence, or survival of the fittest, the species has to be able to adapt to its environment to survive. Lamarck’s theory is the inheritance of acquired characteristics. It states a changing environment creates a need for certain features to be developed in order to survive. They acquire characteristics needed for survival then somehow pass those characteristics on to their offspring. Over many generations a new species has been developed.

There are two different levels of evolution microevolution and macroevolution. Microevolution is on the small scale in one population. A population is a group of organisms that interbreed with each other and share a gene pool. Macroevolution is evolution on a scale of separated gene pools.

Microevolution, the evolution on the small scale in one population, has four mechanism of microevolution are mutation, migration, genetic drift, and natural selection. Mutation is when some genes randomly mutate to different genes. Migration is when one species from one population immigrate to another population and mate spreading their genes. Genetic drift is when a species reproduces and just by luck more of one gene ends up the offspring the other gene. And last is natural selection. Natural selection is when a species changes color to match its surrounding so it doesn’t get eaten by predators.

An example of natural selection evolution is the mice. There were some black mice and white mice in a black environment. Predators ate the white mice because they could see them easier. The black mice had offspring that were black so they were able to survive and grow up to be big and healthy.

An example of Lamarck’s theory is the long legs of wading birds such as herons and egrets, birds that are common around rivers and marshes. This caused by a change in environment. The food in the shallow water was depleting so the wading birds had to stretch its legs to get food in deeper waters. When the next generation was born they had a little longer legs.

Macroevolution, evolution on a scale of separate gene pools, is a much longer process then microevolution. Macroevolution is when the whole family changes over a long period of time and completely changes the creature and makes a whole new creature.

An example of this is humans. we have been evolving as a family for many many years. Charles Darwins says we have evolved from apes. This would have taken many many years to happen but their is actually alot of proof that it has happened.

Evolution is really cool. I would like to learn more about it. To do that I plan on actually doing all the blogs you sent out instead of skimming through them to get enough information for me to write my paper. I did that because I have senioritis bad and I can’t focus at all anymore.