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The Berkeley Evolution Site

The Berkeley site has resources that can assist students and teachers understand and teach evolution. The resources are arranged into different learning paths like "What did T. rex taste like?"

Charles Darwin's theory on natural selection explains how animals who are better able to adapt to changes in their environments over time, and those that do not become extinct. This process of evolution in biology is the basis of science.


What is Evolution?

The term "evolution" can have many nonscientific meanings, including "progress" or "descent with modification." Scientifically, it refers to a changing the characteristics of organisms (or species) over time. In biological terms, this change is based on natural selection and genetic drift.

Evolution is one of the fundamental tenets of modern biology. It is a concept that has been proven through thousands of scientific tests. Contrary to other theories of science like the Copernican theory or the germ theory of disease, the evolution theory is not a discussion of spiritual belief or the existence of God.

Early evolutionists, including Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that certain physical characteristics were predetermined to change in a step-wise way, over time. They referred to this as the "Ladder of Nature" or scala naturae. Charles Lyell first used this term in 1833 in his Principles of Geology.

In the early 1800s, Darwin formulated his theory of evolution and published it in his book On the Origin of Species. It asserts that different species of organisms have the same ancestry, which can be proven through fossils and other evidence. This is the modern view on evolution, which is supported in many areas of science that include molecular biology.

Although scientists aren't able to determine exactly how organisms developed but they are certain that the evolution of life on earth is the result of natural selection and genetic drift. People with desirable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, and they pass their genes on to the next generation. As time passes the gene pool slowly changes and develops into new species.

Some scientists also use the term evolution to describe large-scale evolutionary changes such as the creation of a new species from an ancestral species. Some scientists, like population geneticists, define evolution in a more broad sense by talking about the net change in the frequency of alleles across generations. ?? ???? are valid and reliable however, some scientists claim that the definition of allele frequency is lacking essential aspects of the evolution process.

Origins of Life

One of the most crucial steps in evolution is the development of life. This occurs when living systems begin to evolve at the micro level, within cells, for instance.

The origin of life is an issue in a variety of disciplines that include biology, chemistry, and geology. The origin of life is an area of interest in science because it challenges the theory of evolution. It is often referred to as "the mystery of life," or "abiogenesis."

The notion that life could arise from non-living things was called "spontaneous generation" or "spontaneous evolutionary". It was a common belief prior to Louis Pasteur's tests proved that the emergence of living organisms was not possible through a natural process.

Many scientists believe it is possible to move from nonliving substances to living ones. The conditions needed to create life are difficult to replicate in a laboratory. Researchers interested in the origins and evolution of life are also eager to know the physical properties of the early Earth as well as other planets.

The life-cycle of a living organism is dependent on a number of complex chemical reactions that are not predicted by basic physical laws. These include the reading and replication of complex molecules, like DNA or RNA, to produce proteins that perform a specific function. These chemical reactions can be compared to the chicken-and-egg issue that is the emergence and growth of DNA/RNA, protein-based cell machinery, is required to begin the process of becoming a living organism. But without life, the chemistry that is required to create it does appear to work.

Research in the field of abiogenesis requires collaboration among scientists from a variety of disciplines. This includes prebiotic scientists, astrobiologists and planetary scientists.

Evolutionary Changes

The term "evolution" is used to describe cumulative changes in genetic characteristics over time. These changes can result from adaptation to environmental pressures, as explained in the article on Darwinism (see the entry on Charles Darwin for background) or natural selection.

This process increases the number of genes that provide a survival advantage in the species, leading to an overall change in the appearance of an entire group. These evolutionary changes are triggered by mutations, reshuffling of genes during sexual reproduction and gene flow.

While reshuffling and mutations of genes happen in all living things and the process by which beneficial mutations become more common is referred to as natural selection. This occurs because, as we've mentioned earlier, those individuals with the beneficial trait tend to have a higher fertility rate than those who do not have it. This variation in the number of offspring born over a number of generations could cause a gradual change in the number of advantageous traits in the group.

?????? is evident in the evolution of different beak designs on finches that are found in the Galapagos Islands. They have developed these beaks in order that they can access food more easily in their new habitat. These changes in the form and shape of organisms could also be a catalyst for the creation of new species.

Most of the changes that take place are caused by one mutation, but occasionally, multiple mutations occur at the same time. Most of these changes may be neutral or even harmful however, a few can have a beneficial impact on survival and reproduce, increasing their frequency over time. This is the process of natural selection, and it could eventually result in the cumulative changes that eventually lead to the creation of a new species.

Many people confuse the concept of evolution with the idea that traits inherited can be changed through conscious choice or by use and abuse, a concept known as soft inheritance. This is a misinterpretation of the biological processes that lead up to evolution. It is more precise to say that evolution is a two-step, independent process that involves the forces of natural selection as well as mutation.

Origins of Humans

Humans today (Homo sapiens) evolved from primates - a species of mammals that also includes chimpanzees and gorillas and bonobos. ?? ???? were walking on two legs, as demonstrated by the first fossils. Genetic and biological similarities suggest that we have a close relationship with Chimpanzees. In reality we are the closest connected to chimpanzees belonging to the Pan genus, which includes bonobos and pygmy-chimpanzees. The last common human ancestor and chimpanzees lived between 8 and 6 million years ago.

Humans have evolved a variety of traits over time, including bipedalism, the use of fire, and the development of advanced tools. It is only in the last 100,000 years or so that the majority of the characteristics that differentiate us from other species have emerged. These include a big, complex brain human ability to construct and use tools, as well as the diversity of our culture.

The process of evolution occurs when genetic changes allow members of a population to better adapt to their surroundings. This adaptation is driven by natural selection, a process that determines certain traits are favored over others. The ones who are better adaptable are more likely to pass their genes on to the next generation. This is how all species evolve and the basis for the theory of evolution.

Scientists refer to it as the "law of natural selection." The law states that species which have a common ancestor are more likely to develop similar traits over time. This is because these traits allow them to survive and reproduce within their environment.

Every living thing has the DNA molecule, which contains the information needed to guide their growth. The structure of DNA is composed of base pairs that are arranged in a spiral around sugar and phosphate molecules. The sequence of bases in each strand determines the phenotype - the distinctive appearance and behavior of an individual. Different mutations and reshuffling of the genetic material (known as alleles) during sexual reproduction cause variation in a group.

Fossils from the earliest human species, Homo erectus and Homo neanderthalensis, have been found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. These fossils, despite some differences in their appearance all support the hypothesis that modern humans' ancestors originated in Africa. The genetic and fossil evidence suggests that early humans left Africa and migrated to Asia and Europe.

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