Evolution

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Evolution

The concept of evolution refers to the change in condition that gives rise to a new form of a given object of study or analysis. It is important to note that evolution is a gradual process, changes that occur gradually and can only be observed over time.

The term evolution has its most basic use in the field of biology, particularly to refer to the emergence of species that inhabit the world, but it also has corresponding uses in other sciences.

Biological evolution occurs through the modification of genetic makeup, derived from the need for adaptation to the environment in which living beings live. All natural species have evolved, and those that have not been able to carry out these processes have become extinct.

This evolutionary process began in the primitive sea, where the first life was generated, and from then on, molecular compositions changed, preserving certain similarities that allow us to understand the entire evolutionary chain.

Theories that explain life

Humans have approached this evolution in different ways to explain it in a way that fits their interpretation of the world. Let's look at some theories that have had greater or lesser acceptance within societies:

Theory of Acquired Characteristics: Jean-Baptiste Lamarck assumed that the characteristics acquired throughout an individual's life would also be traits of their offspring, giving a very important role to what we know as inheritance. Habits, such as the case of the first giraffes stretching their necks to obtain food, eventually predominate in the entire species.

Mutation theory: Gregor Mendel proposed a very strong theory of inheritance, differentiating between recessive and dominant genes. Years later, Hugo de Vries took up these concepts and proposed the mutation theory, based on permanent changes in a cell's genetic material. These mutations can occur due to errors in DNA copying or due to external agents, and were considered for a time to be the main source of evolution, as they introduce new characteristics that can give rise to new species.

Religion: For centuries, religion has held a position against all evolutionary theories. The first response has always been creationism, the direct interpretation of the Bible that explains the origin of species through God or a similar figure who creates them. As time went on and the evidence for evolution became increasingly stronger, religious scientists moved away from this categorically creationist doctrine.

Darwin's Theory of Evolution: The theory that gained the most consensus within the scientific community was that of Charles Darwin, which speaks of natural selection among living organisms, since most fail to survive. The consequences of this selection are adaptation and diversification, and a constant struggle between species in which only the fittest will survive. This position was later complemented by Wallace, who brought up the question of the dynamics of these changes and the common ancestor of all species. The combination of these two positions is undoubtedly the one agreed upon by the majority of the scientific community today, due to its comprehensive explanation of the processes that all species have undergone.

In the case of the human race, there is an evolutionary chain that begins, it is believed, more than 5 million years ago with Australopithecus, and a series of hominids that gradually abandoned the characteristics of the ape and took on those of humans (a species known as Homo sapiens sapiens).

The term was extrapolated, and we talk about evolution to refer to things other than biology, including physics (which describes the movement of an object as the evolution of its location over time). in space), psychology (which believes that evolution is the change in behavior or attitude), or epistemology (which attributes the concept to transformations in theories or ideas).

Activity. Answer the following questions.

Remember to review the answers to the open-ended questions at the bottom of this page.

1. What is the main characteristic of evolution?

2. Who proposed the theory of mutations?

3. What difference did Mendel propose in genes?

4. What is the main concept of Darwin's theory?

5. How does religion traditionally react to evolution?

6. Where did life originate according to biology?

Once you click this button, The questions will be closed, and you will not be able to change your answer.

7. Who is believed to have started the human chain?

8. What was Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's contribution to the theories of evolution?

9. What does Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection propose?

10. How is the concept of evolution applied in biology?

Still have questions?

We recommend visiting the following materials for further knowledge or understanding on the topic:

Answers to open-ended questions:

8. He assumed that the characteristics acquired throughout an individual's existence would also be characteristics of their offspring.

9. He proposed that organisms best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

1. Equipo editorial, Etecé. (2021, 5 agosto). Evolución: Concepto y teorías de su origen. Concepto. https://concepto.de/evolucion/

5. FuseSchool - Global Education. (2017, 5 abril). Evolution by Natural Selection - Darwin’s Finches | Evolution | Biology | FuseSchool [Vídeo]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s64Y8sVYfFY