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The Academy's Evolution Site Biology is one of the most fundamental concepts in biology. The Academies have long been involved in helping people who are interested in science comprehend the concept of evolution and how it affects all areas of scientific exploration. This site provides teachers, students and general readers with a variety of learning resources on evolution. It has the most important video clips from NOVA and the WGBH-produced science programs on DVD. Tree of Life The Tree of Life is an ancient symbol that represents the interconnectedness of all life. It is an emblem of love and unity across many cultures. It also has many practical applications, such as providing a framework for understanding the history of species and how they respond to changes in environmental conditions. The earliest attempts to depict the biological world focused on categorizing species into distinct categories that were identified by their physical and metabolic characteristics1. These methods, which rely on the collection of various parts of organisms or fragments of DNA, have significantly increased the diversity of a tree of Life2. However these trees are mainly composed of eukaryotes; bacterial diversity is not represented in a large way3,4. In avoiding the necessity of direct observation and experimentation, genetic techniques have enabled us to represent the Tree of Life in a more precise way. We can construct trees using molecular techniques, such as the small-subunit ribosomal gene. Despite the massive expansion of the Tree of Life through genome sequencing, much biodiversity still is waiting to be discovered. This is especially true of microorganisms, which are difficult to cultivate and are usually only represented in a single specimen5. A recent study of all genomes that are known has produced a rough draft of the Tree of Life, including many bacteria and archaea that are not isolated and their diversity is not fully understood6. The expanded Tree of Life can be used to evaluate the biodiversity of a specific area and determine if specific habitats need special protection. The information can be used in a variety of ways, from identifying new treatments to fight disease to enhancing crops. It is also valuable to conservation efforts. It can aid biologists in identifying those areas that are most likely contain cryptic species that could have significant metabolic functions that could be at risk from anthropogenic change. While conservation funds are important, the best way to conserve the world's biodiversity is to empower more people in developing countries with the information they require to take action locally and encourage conservation. Phylogeny A phylogeny (also known as an evolutionary tree) depicts the relationships between organisms. Scientists can build a phylogenetic chart that shows the evolution of taxonomic groups based on molecular data and morphological differences or similarities. Phylogeny plays a crucial role in understanding the relationship between genetics, biodiversity and evolution. A basic phylogenetic tree (see Figure PageIndex 10 ) determines the relationship between organisms with similar traits that have evolved from common ancestors. These shared traits are either analogous or homologous. Homologous characteristics are identical in terms of their evolutionary paths. Analogous traits could appear like they are however they do not share the same origins. Scientists arrange similar traits into a grouping known as a the clade. All members of a clade have a common characteristic, like amniotic egg production. They all derived from an ancestor who had these eggs. A phylogenetic tree can be built by connecting the clades to identify the species who are the closest to each other. Scientists use DNA or RNA molecular information to create a phylogenetic chart that is more precise and precise. This information is more precise and provides evidence of the evolution of an organism. Researchers can use Molecular Data to determine the evolutionary age of organisms and determine how many species share a common ancestor. The phylogenetic relationship can be affected by a number of factors such as the phenomenon of phenotypicplasticity. This is a type of behavior that alters in response to unique environmental conditions. This can make a trait appear more similar to one species than another and obscure the phylogenetic signals. However, this problem can be solved through the use of techniques like cladistics, which incorporate a combination of similar and homologous traits into the tree. In addition, phylogenetics helps determine the duration and rate at which speciation takes place. This information can assist conservation biologists decide the species they should safeguard from extinction. In the end, it is the preservation of phylogenetic diversity that will lead to an ecosystem that is complete and balanced. Evolutionary Theory The fundamental concept in evolution is that organisms change over time due to their interactions with their environment. Many theories of evolution have been proposed by a variety of scientists, including the Islamic naturalist Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (1201-1274) who believed that an organism would evolve gradually according to its needs as well as the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) who designed modern hierarchical taxonomy, and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829) who suggested that use or disuse of traits can cause changes that can be passed on to the offspring. In the 1930s and 1940s, theories from a variety of fields--including genetics, natural selection and particulate inheritance--came together to create the modern evolutionary theory synthesis that explains how evolution occurs through the variations of genes within a population, and how those variants change over time due to natural selection. This model, which encompasses genetic drift, mutations as well as gene flow and sexual selection, can be mathematically described mathematically. Recent developments in the field of evolutionary developmental biology have shown how variation can be introduced to a species via genetic drift, mutations or reshuffling of genes in sexual reproduction and migration between populations. These processes, along with others, such as directional selection and gene erosion (changes in the frequency of genotypes over time) can lead to evolution. Evolution is defined by changes in the genome over time and changes in phenotype (the expression of genotypes within individuals). Incorporating evolutionary thinking into all areas of biology education could increase students' understanding of phylogeny as well as evolution. In a recent study by Grunspan and colleagues., it was shown that teaching students about the evidence for evolution boosted their acceptance of evolution during a college-level course in biology. To find out more about how to teach about evolution, please see The Evolutionary Potential of All Areas of Biology and Thinking Evolutionarily A Framework for Infusing the Concept of Evolution into Life Sciences Education. Evolution in Action Scientists have traditionally looked at evolution through the past, analyzing fossils and comparing species. They also observe living organisms. But evolution isn't a thing that occurred in the past, it's an ongoing process happening in the present. Bacteria evolve and resist antibiotics, viruses evolve and escape new drugs and animals change their behavior in response to the changing environment. The changes that result are often evident. However, it wasn't until late 1980s that biologists realized that natural selection could be seen in action, as well. The key is the fact that different traits confer an individual rate of survival and reproduction, and they can be passed on from one generation to another. In the past, if one allele - the genetic sequence that determines color - appeared in a population of organisms that interbred, it could become more common than other allele. Over time, that would mean the number of black moths within a population could increase. The same is true for many other characteristics--including morphology and behavior--that vary among populations of organisms. It is easier to track evolutionary change when the species, like bacteria, has a rapid generation turnover. Since 1988, Richard Lenski, a biologist, has tracked twelve populations of E.coli that are descended from a single strain. Samples from each population were taken regularly, and more than 500.000 generations of E.coli have passed. Lenski's research has shown that a mutation can profoundly alter the efficiency with which a population reproduces and, consequently, the rate at which it evolves. It also shows evolution takes time, a fact that is hard for some to accept. ???? ?? ??? is also evident in the fact that mosquito genes for pesticide resistance are more prevalent in areas where insecticides are used. This is because pesticides cause a selective pressure which favors those with resistant genotypes. The speed of evolution taking place has led to a growing appreciation of its importance in a world that is shaped by human activity, including climate change, pollution, and the loss of habitats that hinder the species from adapting. Understanding evolution will help us make better decisions about the future of our planet, and the life of its inhabitants.
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