OBSERVATIONS
Since I entered into a formal institution, and we happen to study the evolution, I have always been left amazed and wondered on how living beings came to be. Because it was in my primary level, I always thought of it as just a mere story. I could hear that people were once using their four limbs for movement like the monkeys. I could also read that we evolved from the primate family which consists the likes of the chimpanzees, monkeys, baboons, and we later came to become what we are today. My grandparents could tell me stories of how the giraffe had a short neck but due to drought, it began to lengthen its neck as it ate the remaining leaves on tree tops. On my day to day activities, I come across white people, dark skinned people, Caucasians that leave me with a lot of unanswered questions. Therefore, all these unanswered questions and stories make me ask myself about how evolution took place and how the present living beings came to be.
QUESTIONS
These issues about evolution include; what does it mean by the term evolution by itself? When did evolution start? What is the process of human evolution? How did humans happen to possess different colors, characteristics and also features if they came from the primate family? Why do the giraffes have long necks, and it is believed that they had short necks like all other animals? Also, do people entirely agree with the concept of evolution all over the world and is no, why? These questions concerning evolution are answered below.
HYPOTHESIS
Evolution is defined as the theory of change in a species' organic matter over a period. The changes are either large or small or even may be noticeable or unnoticeable. Migration of the homo genus from Africa to the other parts of the world led to the existence of people with different colors and features (Darwin 12). This was due to hot or cold weather conditions or the type of climate. The use and disuse theory or Lamarck explains precisely why the giraffes have long necks. Due to droughts, the giraffe used to eat the leaves on top of shrubs that had not dried. Due to its continued use, it adapted and its genes in the preceding generations changed to those of long necks (Fisher 24).
PREDICTIONS
The models of asking questions after doing observations are crucial so as to give the correct possible answers to the questions. Once the observation is done in the best way possible, then the researchers can gather the items that are almost close to the topic under discussion. For example, if all the wild animals have short necks then why do the giraffes have short necks? Also, why did the human beings evolve to this extent and not the other primates? Also, if the giraffes got long necks due to the prolonged use of their necks, then if people who type a lot can result in their fingers becoming. Therefore, these questions can direct the researcher to a given project to achieve his or her objectives.
TEST WITH CONTROLS
At this point, the researcher or the person dealing with a project can do propose for some experiments that can help him or her get the predictions. For example, maybe you can do some tests in the lab that can assist in knowing the genetic changes of the long-necked giraffes with those of the shorter necked giraffes (Lamarck, Wheeler, and Barbour 43). The experiment may help the researcher record on how the genetic makeup mutated or evolved over time so as to arrive at a particular conclusion. Also, in the case of the typewriters, the researcher may decide to observe and do some genetic tests to check if there is any change happening to those who are typewriters. This method may help in understanding how genes change and after how long.
EXPLORATION
The topic of evolution has very many lessons that I have happened to learn. Evolution has led to dramatic changes in the past leading to the development of advanced species on the face of the earth. Take the example of the human beings; they evolved from their fellow primates leading to a more advanced species. As we all know, people are the ones who are capable of using their brains compared to the fellow primates. On the other hand, if evolution did not take place, then the word modern humans could not exist, and the world could look desolate without us. The development of man made him discover a lot of things that we see in our era. Due to the coldness; therefore, he made a fire. Evolution also does not take a short period so as to see changes or something undergoing evolution, but it takes millions of years to take place (Darwin 14).
Also, I have learned that evolution is defined as the theory of change in a species' organic matter over a period. The changes are either large or small or even may be noticeable or unnoticeable. Living beings have in one way, or another undergone biological evolution that has made them become and look the way they are today. The process of evolution changes from one stage to another as different genes mutate and lead to a new offspring different from its original mother (Sober 14). Evolution of living beings has changed since the time of their existence on earth and has continued up to date. Several evolution theories have been developed by scientists concerning what they think about the process of evolution. These ideas have created a sound base on what we believe about evolution in our present times.
According to the theory of Darwin of evolution, he wrote a book concerning “The Origin of Species” in the year of 1859. He talked of human evolution as the gradual evolutionary process that led to the modern day appearance of a man (Darwin 16). This topic covers the evolutionary history of the primate family. The Homicide family diverged from the family of Hylobatidae and the orangutans diverged from the Hominidae family. Bipedal is the term that is used in the hominin line. Early bipedal are believed to have evolved to Australopithecus, which later evolved to the homo genus. The homo genus took a series of evolvements that led to the existence of the present humans with high brain capacity and an upright posture.
Migration of the homo genus from Africa to the other parts of the world led to the existence of people with different colors and features. The exposure to new environments such as cold climates resulted in the mutation of their genes. Those who went to Europe developed white complexion due to exposure to frigid climates as compared to those who were left in Africa developed dark skin due to sun’s heat. The theory of use and disuse developed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck led to the present day long-necked giraffes. He believed that as environments changed, organisms had to change their behavior to survive. The use of an organ more than it had in the past led to its increase. Therefore, due to drought the giraffes had to use their necks to eat the leaves of the drought resistant vegetation hence they lengthened over time (Kauffman 18)
I have understood that, some world creatures may look different in the next million years. Due to the theory of natural selection as thought by Charles Darwin, some animals may evolve to adapt the changes of nature (Darwin 45). The world is changing, and so is nature. Therefore, there is increased global warming in the world which if it won’t be stopped would lead to death of many organisms on earth. For example, the increased acidity and temperatures in the earth’s water bodies might result in death of many sea creatures. Therefore, these creatures may also evolve as time goes by and as nature changes in order to fulfill the demand of nature (Wagner 22). The fish can develop in such a way that they are capable of adapting high temperatures in the waters and adjust to the acidity also as it increases.
On the other hand, humans may have reached the end of their evolution according to what I have learned. The theory of natural selection explains the tremendous evolution changes in the existence of humans. Man had no option to adapt to the changes of nature instead he had to evolve. For example, as temperatures and other forms of life worsened, the skin color of a man modified to adapt to these changes (Lamarck, Wheeler, and Barbour 46). But nowadays, man can dictate the nature and therefore the theory of natural selection might apply only to the other animals.
REPEAT (MODIFY, EXTEND OR REJECT)
According to the question, “what is the concept evolution?” it can be defined as the change in a species' organic matter over a period. The change can lead to new advanced organisms that can be able to adapt the changes of nature. It is a process that happens dues to the forces of nature so as to suit its demands and the needs of that organism. It takes a long period for the genes to change (Darwin 21).
In conclusion, evolution is a change in a species' organic matter over a period. The evolution concepts have evolution within it such as those of our traditional beliefs and myths to those of Lamarck and Charles Darwin. The theories of evolution can explain the stages than organisms underwent due to evolution by use of fossil evidence.
Works Cited
Darwin, Charles. On the Origin of Species. Lanham: Start Publishing LLC, 2013. Print.
Fisher, Ronald A. The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection. New York: Dover, 1958. Print.
Kauffman, Stuart A. The Origins of Order: Self-organization and Selection in Evolution. New York: Oxford UP, 1993. Print.
Lamarck, Jean B. P. A. M, William M. Wheeler, and Thomas Barbour. The Lamarck Manuscripts at Harvard. Cambridge: Harvard Univ. Press, 1933. Print.
Sober, Elliott. Conceptual Issues in Evolutionary Biology. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2006. Print.
Wagner, Gu?nter P. The Character Concept in Evolutionary Biology. San Diego: Academic Press, 2001. Print.
