Essays on Fossil Record

The fossil record of hominids provides evidence for evolutionary processes that ultimately defined and shaped humanity. The record documents the emergence of bipedalism, the origin of the genus Homo, the initial utilization of tools made of stone, the gradual increase in brain size, the appearance of the present-day humans or Homo sapiens, and the development of advanced tools and cultural values. According to the National Research Council (2010), the evolutionary events described in geological records coincided with significant changes in Eurasian and African climate. Hence, they raise the possibility that past environmental features controlled or affected major junctures in ...

Scientists, the world over, have a common belief that over 90% of earth’s species have become extinct over the last three billion years that the planet has supported life . It is estimated that there have been at least five mass extinctions spread over millions of years at a time. The latest known mass extinction was towards the end of the Cretaceous period. It is most likely so well known because, the event which occurred over 65 million years ago, caused the end of the dinosaurs. Although in terms of the scale it was smaller than the previous four, ...

Floresiensis, Denisovans, Neanderthals, and modern Homo sapiens are the four types of hominins. However, modern Homo sapiens are the only species left. There are many contributing factors that lead to the extinction of the three other species 20,000 years ago however I believe the most important aspect that lead to Homo sapiens survival over the others to be diet. There are slight diet differences between the species that I believe correlate to survival. I think that diet plays a role in the survival of the fittest idea as well. Homo sapiens were the fittest species and survived because ...

Introduction

The study explored the homological characteristics of 22 species. The organisms were human, pygmy chimpanzee, common chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, white-handed gibbon, macaque (Cercopithecine monkey), horse, bison, cat, dog, bird, bat, frog, rattlesnake, alligator, fish, whale, wolf, pig, bacteria, and cow. The species were categorized as mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, or amphibians. However, humans and apes were further classified as primates. Moreover, the research sought to determine whether the species share characteristics that link them to a common ancestor. The research hypothesis was that if the evolutionary path of the 22 organisms were traced, then a common ancestor would be observed.

Universal Genetic Code

The ...

Abstract

The Great American Interchange lasted for about two million years between North America and South America. The objective of the essay is to look at the symmetrical results of the great American interchange in the beginning and how the interchange became asymmetrical after time progressed. The unbalanced nature of the interchange offers a model to explain the asymmetrical results of the land-mammal interchange between the two Americas. Both Geological and biological data are looked into the get insights the past and present distributions of fauna.

Introduction

The Great American Interchange is a crucial paleo zoogeographic event that occurred between North America and ...

1) Humanity is a vastly diverse species, and there is a range of ways of viewing it. The world anthropology is the study of every facet of what it means to be human. As a result, there are a number of perspectives and applications that humanity inhabits, and as a result a number of subdivisions to the academic discipline of anthropology. Depending on who you ask, anthropology is generally broken into five categories, while the majority of anthropologists recognize four areas of anthropology (Kottak, 1). A quick look at these subdivisions shows how they are all related to understanding humanity, but from different points ...

4 April,2014

Pollination can simply be described as a mechanism that involves the transfer of pollen contribute to the process of reproduction of plants. this process in plants reproduction entails ferterlization and reproduction (Barret). In scientific terms or biological terms, pollination can be described as the movement or transfer of pollen from one flower's anther to the stigma of same or other flower. This process or step is a pre-requisite for the ferterlization because it allows the fusion of the nuclei from one pollen grain with the nuclei of the ovule of the flower of other plant. The whole essence ...

The contribution of Alfred Wegener

William C. McCullough LAIS 370 History of Science Colorado School of Mines Abstract This paper discusses the role of Alfred Wegener in the discovery of the Plates tectonics theory. It is believed that the modern day plate tectonics theory is an advancement of continental drift theory which was discovered by Wegener. The study will seek to explore his efforts and contribution to modern science and how he has helped to shape the world.

Overview

Plate tectonics also known as continental drift theory describes that the earth was at one time many years back a super continent whereby ...

Fossil record has its place in development and advancement in sciences. Data from fossil record have helped in understanding various issues with humans and animals. The amount of information provided by available fossil record is enormous. Some of the information is undoubted fossil occurrences while some are questionable regarding the occurrence. There are several benefits associated with the use of morphological features that are from fossil records especially those that are related to the metazoan taxa. It helps to improve our understanding of the general diversity patterns that exist among the metazoan taxa. The various diversities that have ...

Biological evolution is termed as any genetic change in a population that is passed on over successive generations. These genetic variations are not consistent as they may be large or small, prominent or not noticeable at all. To sum it up, biological evolution highlights how life has changed over time. Arguments of this theory have been advanced by Charles Darwin. His premise was of a scientific nature where he postulated biological evolution by means of Natural Selection. Charles Darwin’s Natural Selection is based on three assumptions about organisms namely: survival, adaptation and reproduction. This theory, however, has received criticism from ...

Summary

Bilal Haq, a scientist from the National Science Foundation Arlingtion, Virginia encountered foraminifera on his trip to Qingdao in China. Foraminifera are small creatures that grow shells on their bodies. Their shells are varied and very diverse, as if they are created by visionary artists. Haq thought the foraminifera would make beautiful pieces of art and should be put on display. Haq’s fellow colleague from China, Zheng, agreed and put things into action by involving local craft workers. It resulted in a park for foraminifera since the end of 2009 and already a million people have visited (Larkins, 2012).

It is ...