The Meaning Of The Cambrian Explosion - Essay Example

Evolution Header - Evol. Science is a search for the truth. Science has various mythical elements which ca not be ignored.Even then it has made our lives safer, healthier and productive. Darwin has made several contributions towards the evolution of species. He believed that all organisms are modified descendants of a common ancestor. But according to the Cambrian explosion there is no fossil evidence that the animal phyla branched off from a common ancestor. This is a serious problem to be dealt by the scientists for having faith in science. And there is a dire need to get the public school students acquainted with all the old as well as new emerging facts of evolution. New York State has already gained the significant results of teaching about evolution presently. 1. How does NY state rank in the teaching of evolution in public schools Compare NY to another state. David Campbell, a teacher in Florida, says that it is for the first time that the Department of Education has modified the standards of teaching evolution in public schools. And calls it, "the organizing principle of life science." But it has been noted that the science teachers all over America are finding it difficult to turn a "culture war into a lesson plan." As per the education experts, even as recently as three years ago, the American public schools have been giving very short shrift to evolution. The poor treatment of evolution can be seen reflected in the creationist beliefs of students. Recently in 2000, Thomas B, Fordham Foundation evaluated the evolution education standards in public schools in all 50 states which was really disappointing. Florida among 12 states receives F grade. But with time it can be seen that now the students have an idea related to evidence of evolutionary change which is an achievement in itself. In 2006 the bills changed and attempted to alter public school science curricula introduced in New York, Alabama, South California, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Indiana and several others. And "only seven states including New York and California got A, with 12 receiving a B, and 8 plus the District of Columbia receiving a C. Seven states got a D, and 15 got an F. Iowa was not included in the report because it does not set standards for any subject." So, New York undoubtedly ranks high on the grounds of teaching of evolution in public schools. Campbell lastly concludes that, "if he forced them look at themselves in the evolutionary mirror, he risked alienating then entirely." 2. What is the difference between science & belief Theory & story David Campbell remarks that in a nation with evangelical Protestantism and various other religious traditions that stress on biblical readings and believe in God as supreme creator of every species, it is obvious that students will fear evolution and even science. They might consider science as a belief which is hostile to their faith. The subject of evolutionary science is considered fraught by the students who are taught right from their tender years to believe that God has created man uniquely in His own form. And when Florida's science standards came out Campbell saw that the students studied science in disbelief. He also mentioned that "Faith is not based in science" and "science is not based on faith". He also stated that he doesn't expect that the students should believe the scientific explanation of evolution but to start forming a base he concluded that he expects then "to understand it". The basic confusion of the word "science" being related to "theory" and "belief" arises from the everyday changing meaning of the word and their usage in science. One of the misconceptions is that, "Theories become facts when they are well supported and/or proven." It is so because with time if any contradictory evidence turns up, the theory might be reevaluated or even abandoned. And then it is not science but only a story which is not believed any more. ................. supported and/or proven." National Center for Science Education. Theory and Fact. October 17, 2008. Q: Darwin's tree of life. Why don't textbooks discuss the "Cambrian explosion," in which all major animal groups appear together in the fossil record fully formed, instead of branching from a common ancestor - thus contradicting the evolutionary tree of life Darwin proved that the evolutionary tree of life was reconstructed from a large and growing body of fossil and molecular evidence. He called his theory "decent with modification." It clearly portrays the fact that every organism is a modified descendant. The minor differences would appear in the beginning and then these differences would eventually and gradually increase till the specific species became so different to be classes as separate genres. Though in fossil records, most of the major animal phyla or division appeared fully formed right at the beginning of the geological period known as Cambrian, having no fossil evidence that they are branched from a common ancestor. Even Darwin was fully aware of this and he himself called it a "serious" problem which "at present must remain inexplicable; and many urged as a valid argument against the views here entertained." ..... the views here entertained." Darwin. Charles. Origin of Species, Sixth Edition. New York: D. Chapter X. Appleton, 1890. Studying the evidences of 1991, James Valentine, a Berkley paleontologist found that, "it has not proven possible to trace transitions" between phyla, and the evidence points to a Cambrian "explosion" that "was even more abrupt and extensive than previously envisioned." Darwin's theory of "tree of life" predicts that animal evolution proceeds from the "bottom up" but there is a large difference in what James Valentine and his colleagues say. As they write that the pattern of the Cambrian explosion "creates the impression that metazoan evolution has by and large proceeded from the 'top down'." ............. than previously envisioned." James W. Valentine et al. "The Biological Explosion at the Precambrian-Cambrian Boundary". Evolution Biology 25 (1991). Pg: 279-356. Also an evolutionary biologist Jeffery Levinton is convinced with the idea that the common ancestry of animals, acknowledged in 1992 that the Cambrian explosion - "life's big bang", as he called it - remains "evolutionary biology's deepest paradox". ................. biology's deepest paradox". Levinton .Jeffery. "The Big Bang if Animal Evolution". Scientific American 267. November, 1992. Pg: 84-91. So, it can be said that Cambrian explosion is real as for some biologists it is paradoxical and mysterious when seen in the light of Darwin's theory. And a few consider it as solid evidence against Darwin's hypothesis that all animals were evolved from a single common ancestor. Where as some also defend Darwin by arguing that it is perfectly consistent with it. And having so many evidences of Cambrian explosion the students must be taught this aspect of evolution too. Sources: 1. NY Times. A Teacher on the Front Line as faith and Science clash. Harman. Amy. August 23, 2008. < http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/education/24evolution.htmlpagewanted=1> 2. Janofsky. Michael. Report Says States Aim Low in Science Classes. December 8, 2005. November 5, 2008. 3. Wells. Jonathan. Introduction to Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth Washington DC: Regnery, 2000. November 5, 2008. < http://www.iconsofevolution.org/intro/> 4. Darwin. Charles. Origin of Species, Sixth Edition. New York: D. Chapter X. Appleton, 1890. 5. Discover Institute.The Scientific Controversy Over the Cambrian Explosion. . November 5, 2008. 6. James W. Valentine et al. "The Biological Explosion at the Precambrian-Cambrian Boundary". Evolution Biology 25 (1991). 7. Levinton .Jeffery. "The Big Bang if Animal Evolution". Scientific American 267. November, 1992. 8. National Center for Science Education. Theory and Fact. October 17, 2008. November 5, 2008. http://ncseweb.org/evolution/education/theory-fact Read More