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Transcript
Evolutionary Theory This pygmy sea horse is smaller than your fingernail. It lives exclusively among certain kinds of coral in coral reefs of the western Pacific Ocean. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection provides an explanation for how characteristics such as camouflage can arise over time. His theory continues to be supported and explained by scientists. Key Ideas • Why is evolutionary theory associated with Charles Darwin? • How was Darwin influenced by his personal experiences? • How was Darwin influenced by the ideas of others? • How is the scientific explanation for evolution different from other explanations? What is Evolution? Tiktaalik is a genus of extinct lobefinned fish from the late Devonian period, with many features akin to those of tetrapods (four-legged animals). Fossil found in 2004. • Evolution is the process of change by which new species develop from preexisting species over time. • First, however, we will examine some myths associated with the study of evolution. Myths About Evolution #1 • Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution Debunked! • The theory of evolution existed well before Darwin. • He was not the only scientist who proposed explanations for changes in time. Others included: Erasmus Darwin, Jean Baptiste Lamarck, and Alfred Wallace. Modern evolutionary theory began when Darwin presented evidence that evolution happens and offered an explanation of how it happens. Myth #2 • Living things adapt to their environment. Debunked! • Living things are adapted to their environments (that’s why they are alive). • Individuals are unchanging; they live or die based on the traits they are born with. • They cannot adapt during their lifetime. Myth #3 • Biologists “believe” in evolution. Nicholas E. Federoff Wildlife Biologist Debunked! • Science is not based on belief. • The theory of evolution provides an evidence-based model explaining the relationship between organisms and their environment. Myth # 4 • Monkeys will eventually become human. Debunked! • There are many species of primates and all are adapted to their environments. • A chimpanzee would not turn into a human any more likely than a cheetah would become a lion—they are different species. Myth # 5 • Evolution is JUST a theory. Debunked! • Saying “just” a theory implies that it is a guess. • Scientific theories are based on much evidence. • A theory in science is a broad explanation that has been scientifically tested and supported. Peppered Moths Myth #6 • Only atheists accept the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection Debunked! • Scientists of many religions around the world accept evolution to be true and do not find it incompatible with their faith. Myth # 7 • No one has ever seen evolution happen. Debunked! • In organisms that reproduce quickly (like bacteria), changes can be directly observed. For example, resistance to antibiotics is evolution in action! • Many other studies have been done, including important research using insects, birds, and fish. Myth # 8 • Order cannot come from disorder so evolution is false. Debunked! • Many instances in nature show processes in which molecules and substances organize. • These processes require energy—the sun provides the energy that ultimately fuels almost all life processes. Myth # 9 • Scientists regularly debate whether evolution occurs. Debunked! • There is no debate among scientists about whether evolution has occurred. • Scientists debate some of the processes of evolution or the relationship between current organisms and fossils. • The only place the evolution debate continues is in social circles. Myth # 10 • There are no transition fossils. Pleisaur found in California. Debunked! • Museums are filled with fossils that show intermediate species. Myth # 11 • Carbon dating is not accurate; therefore the scientific age of the earth is inaccurate. Debunked! • Carbon dating is only one of many methods used to determine the age of the earth. • Other elements such as Argon and Potassium provide more evidence of the age of the earth and rock formations. • Taken as a whole, the evidence is overwhelming that the earth is very old (4.5 billion years).