Only the best survive. This is true in evolution.
This essay will discuss and teach the theroy of evolution. Evolution is adapting and changing to better suit your environment. All of life is constantly doing this – animals evolve to live easier in their environment; predators may develop sharper teeth, or prey better-camouflaging coats. Plants might evolve to suit a new climate – that species may develop water cavities if they are in drier countries or produce more fruit if animals start consuming it more often. Even humans evolve.
There are two types of evolution that will be covered in this document: natural and artificial selection. Evolution by natural selection is when life evolves independently. In the wilderness, only the best survive – you must be strong, healthy and attractive to get by.
Scientific theory states that we all evolved from a single organism, DNA. As DNA multiplies, it mutates and deforms, thus creating multitudes of different species of life. This life further changes as it adapts to its new world. In evolution by natural selection, the most healthy, attractive and strong are the most likely to produce young, thus the species is always evolving and improving. Some examples of natural selection are giraffes and frogs.
Giraffes used to have short necks. Over time, they evolved to have longer necks so they were able to access more food and nutrients, becoming healthier and better suited to reproduce. Therefore the giraffes with longer necks had more young and passed on their genes, continuing to change, and to lengthen their necks, thus becoming the animals we see in savannahs today.
Frogs lay many eggs, hundreds at a time. But out of these many eggs, only a very small fraction survive. Many get eaten by carnivores or fail to develop properly. Only the strongest live to hatch, and only a few tadpoles finally morph into frogs.
This, in full, is natural selection.
Evolution by artificial selection is when humans breed animals to create a desired variety. Another term for artificial selection is breeding. Dogs, cats, horses, birds, and many other animals are bred by humans to create different variations. Artificial selection can happen for many reasons.
Dogs are often bred for hunting. They may be bred to have sharper teeth or a keener sense of smell or hearing. The beagle has been bred to have a white-tipped tail so that the owner can track it through the forest easier. Horses are bred for appearance or ability. Cats are usually bred for looks, if the owner wants a long- or short-haired cat, or flat ears or short legs.
Plants, too, can be bred. Fruit trees are often bred to withstand different climates or produce different tastes. Wild plants may be made into small, delicate shrubs.
Evolution by artificial selection happens when breeders select a male and female specimen and mate them to produce young. In the case of plants, a botanist would harvest the pollen of a male plant and place it in the female plant to germinate and produce seeds that would be planted to create the new variety. If a horse is bred for competition, the breeder would want parents with certain traits, such as grace and strength, and cross-breed them to produce a mixture of the two. New breeds and species can be developed by artificial selection.
Thus, this essay is brought to a close. Hopefully it has educated you fully on the topic of evolution.
GLOSSARY
Breed – to produce (offspring) by hatching or gestation
Germinate – to cause to sprout or develop
Evolution – descent with modification from preexisting species: cumulative inherited change in a population of organisms through time leading to the appearance of new forms: the process by which new species or populations of living things develop from preexisting forms through successive generations
Artificial – caused or produced by a human
Definitions provided by Merriam Webster
REFERENCES
Cosmos: Possible Worlds by Ann Druyan, Chapter 5: The Search for Intelligent Life on Earth
Dinosaurs: A Visual Encyclopedia, by Dorling Kindersley (DK), Section 1: Prehistoric Life
Only the best survive. This is true in evolution.
This essay will discuss and teach the theroy of evolution. Evolution is adapting and changing to better suit your environment. All of life is constantly doing this – animals evolve to live easier in their environment; predators may develop sharper teeth, or prey better-camouflaging coats. Plants might evolve to suit a new climate – that species may develop water cavities if they are in drier countries or produce more fruit if animals start consuming it more often. Even humans evolve.
There are two types of evolution that will be covered in this document: natural and artificial selection. Evolution by natural selection is when life evolves independently. In the wilderness, only the best survive – you must be strong, healthy and attractive to get by.
Scientific theory states that we all evolved from a single organism, DNA. As DNA multiplies, it mutates and deforms, thus creating multitudes of different species of life. This life further changes as it adapts to its new world. In evolution by natural selection, the most healthy, attractive and strong are the most likely to produce young, thus the species is always evolving and improving. Some examples of natural selection are giraffes and frogs.
Giraffes used to have short necks. Over time, they evolved to have longer necks so they were able to access more food and nutrients, becoming healthier and better suited to reproduce. Therefore the giraffes with longer necks had more young and passed on their genes, continuing to change, and to lengthen their necks, thus becoming the animals we see in savannahs today.
Frogs lay many eggs, hundreds at a time. But out of these many eggs, only a very small fraction survive. Many get eaten by carnivores or fail to develop properly. Only the strongest live to hatch, and only a few tadpoles finally morph into frogs.
This, in full, is natural selection.
Evolution by artificial selection is when humans breed animals to create a desired variety. Another term for artificial selection is breeding. Dogs, cats, horses, birds, and many other animals are bred by humans to create different variations. Artificial selection can happen for many reasons.
Dogs are often bred for hunting. They may be bred to have sharper teeth or a keener sense of smell or hearing. The beagle has been bred to have a white-tipped tail so that the owner can track it through the forest easier. Horses are bred for appearance or ability. Cats are usually bred for looks, if the owner wants a long- or short-haired cat, or flat ears or short legs.
Plants, too, can be bred. Fruit trees are often bred to withstand different climates or produce different tastes. Wild plants may be made into small, delicate shrubs.
Evolution by artificial selection happens when breeders select a male and female specimen and mate them to produce young. In the case of plants, a botanist would harvest the pollen of a male plant and place it in the female plant to germinate and produce seeds that would be planted to create the new variety. If a horse is bred for competition, the breeder would want parents with certain traits, such as grace and strength, and cross-breed them to produce a mixture of the two. New breeds and species can be developed by artificial selection.
Thus, this essay is brought to a close. Hopefully it has educated you fully on the topic of evolution.
GLOSSARY
Breed – to produce (offspring) by hatching or gestation
Germinate – to cause to sprout or develop
Evolution – descent with modification from preexisting species: cumulative inherited change in a population of organisms through time leading to the appearance of new forms: the process by which new species or populations of living things develop from preexisting forms through successive generations
Artificial – caused or produced by a human
Definitions provided by Merriam Webster
REFERENCES
Cosmos: Possible Worlds by Ann Druyan, Chapter 5: The Search for Intelligent Life on Earth
Dinosaurs: A Visual Encyclopedia, by Dorling Kindersley (DK), Section 1: Prehistoric Life
To learn more about evolution, CLICK HERE.
Feel free to comment. Thank you for reading!
Susan
