The Process of Evolution - Essay Example

?EVOLUTION Even in this period of great technological advancements and overwhelming scientific discoveries, there is still an ongoing debate of how we, as human beings, came about the way we are now. There are numerous theories on the issue and at the forefront is the theory of Evolution. It is this paper’s position that the human race came about as they are now through the process of evolution. The author believes that living organisms today evolved through the process of natural selection and this has been the key to the survival of living things on earth. There is an overwhelming body of evidence which supports the theory that life on this planet started from a single living microorganism which evolved and adapted into the multitude of living creatures that inhabit the earth. Furthermore, other than the fact that there is strong evidence to conclude that the theory of evolution is sound and valid, the author does not feel that there is similar empirical support for other existential theories. This paper will begin by presenting an introduction into the topic of evolution, including pertinent definitions and a brief history on the issue. Then, the paper will move on to presenting necessary and sufficient evidence that backs up the author’s position on evolution. This paper will also include the presentation of an objection to the author’s position and a corresponding refutal of this objection. Evolution: Definition and History Evolution is the change in the form and behavior of organisms between generations. According to Ridley’s book entitled Evolution, evolutionary changes in living things do not proceed in a predictable manner; instead, the details of evolution depend on the environment that a population happens to live in and the genetic variants that happen to arise by almost random processes in that population (2004). A great majority attributes the evolution theory to Charles Darwin, who, in the 1800s, was the first to present a convincing explanation of how evolution works in his classic work, On the Origin of Species. However, it was the ancient Greeks who had the first known discussions about some concepts that later became part of evolutionary theory. In particular a Greek scientist named Anaximander who lived during the sixth century BC said all life began in the sea. Later on, sea creatures crawled onto dry land and over time, their bodies slowly changed, evolving into reptiles, mammals, and even people (Nardo, 2009). Evolution may be biological or organic, but the key point is that there is a modification in the descendants of organisms over generations. It has to be noted that the unit of evolutionary change is the population, not the individual, which is why changes are manifested in a widespread manner. Evolution: Supporting Evidence Science requires the testing of explanations of the natural world against nature itself, and discarding those explanations that do not work. What distinguishes science from other ways of knowing is its reliance upon the natural world itself as the arbiter of truth. It is for this reason that the theory of evolution presents such a strong argument --- because it is deeply rooted in scientific foundations. Thus, its reliability has been proven time and again by a number of empirical studies, done by a number of respected personalities in the field of science. There are main pieces of evidence that support the theory of evolution. The first is concerned with similarities between organisms that one would not expect if they had independent origins. These similarities are found on all levels, from the molecular to the anatomical. Second, organisms can be classified in a hierarchical fashion in a nested pattern of groups within groups, as predicted by evolutionary theory. Third, biogeography plays a great role in defense of the theory of evolution. Biogeography is the study of the distribution of organisms across the world. The observation that the most closely related species are found close together geographically, regardless of their habitat or their specific adaptations, is explained by evolutionary theory. Finally, the existence of vestigial organs and functionless genes is consistent with their origin from earlier organs and genes that were functional, but hard to understand if the species were separately created (Ellis, 2010). Even from a layman’s point of view, evidence for evolution is apparent and can be seen in the nature that surrounds us. Creationism: A Weak Opposition Against Evolution Creationism is one of the most prominent opposition to the theory of evolution. It proposes that the universe, energy, and life were suddenly created from nothing; there is insufficient mutation and natural selection in bringing about the development of all living things from a single organism; there are changes only within fixed limits of originally created kinds of plants and animals; there is separate ancestry for man and apes; the earth’s geology is explained by catastrophism, including the occurrence of a worldwide flood; and, the inception of the earth and living kinds is relatively recent (Numbers, 1993). Unfortunately for creationists, the propositions that they present are simply not backed up by sufficient data or can be refuted by simple logic. First, matter cannot be simply created out of nothing. Second, mutation and natural selection have been going on for billions of years, long enough for development to come about. In addition, these changes tend to overlap among all living things (Nardo, 2009). Finally, it has been defended by a multitude of evidence that the earth’s geology is not solely explained by catastrophism but rather by a number of natural phenomena that have gone on for many years. It is imperative that people realize and accept that evolution is a fact because the world that the next generation inherits will depend largely by people’s understanding of evolution. Medical professionals need to understand evolution in battling microorganisms that adapt to a particular antibiotic. Agriculturists have to be concerned about the loss of diversity among the world’s food crops. Finally, the study of genetics likewise relies so much on assumptions of evolution. For these reasons, the author firmly supports the position that is for evolution. Bibliography Ellis, J. (2010). How science works: Evolution: A student primer. New York, NY: Springer Books. Nardo, D. (2009). The theory of evolution: A history of life on earth. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press. Numbers, R. (1993). The creationists. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, Ltd. Ridley, M. (2004). Evolution. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science Ltd. Read More