Introduction
Charles Darwin is one of the most prolific contributors of evolutionary biology. Darwin’s theory of natural selection changed peoples’ perspective on how organisms change in the course of time. The theory focuses on the issue of survival and argues that only strong organisms survive. According to Darwin, only robust creatures who are able to effectively adapt to new changes thrive when any sort of transformation occurs. One the other hand, organisms that fail to adapt to new changes are unable to compete, and therefore perish. Duckworth (2009), claims that Darwin made the realization that animals within a species had significantly distinctive traits, which made some more adaptable and suited to various conditions. In the occurrence of various changes in the ecosystem or the environment, those who have the required traits survive while those who do not, become extinct. In the long run, the remaining population would be solely made up of animals with the most desirable traits. Furthermore, Darwin argued that the process of evolution is a gradual one, and cannot just happen overnight. Darwin’s theory is highly productive since it is simple, has a high descriptive power, and has predictive success.
Why Darwin’s Theory was a Major Advance from Prior Ideas of Evolution
Darwin’s theory is far more effective since it gives a more comprehensive and logical explanation on the phenomena of diverse forms of life. On the other hand, the intelligent designer theory argues that there is an intelligent designer, who is the mastermind behind all life forms. The Intelligent Designer theory is illogical and relies solely on a person’s ability to have faith in the unseen and unfamiliar, since the intelligent designer cannot be presented by the proposer and seen in action by ordinary people. Thagard & Findlay (2010) argues that the theory cannot be subjected to any scientific tests to ascertain its claims. Nonetheless, Charles Darwin’s claims can be tested scientifically, since it involves various life forms, whose fossil fuels can be examined to demonstrate the differences in traits between organisms which have undergone evolution for a considerable number of years.
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Moreover, Darwin’s theory properly accounts for transitional fossils. The theory is highly equipped with high explanatory power. Fossil records designate bridged gaps within a species. Fossils are indicative of a transitional phase from one kind of organism to the other. Additionally, the theory offers predictions as opposed to other theories such as intelligent design, which is deficient of predictions. The theory of intelligence design made claims on the designing of species, but it failed to give the potential repercussions of these designs, if there are any. Furthermore, the theory provides nothing for scientists to test.
Darwin’s theory on the other hand, offers a number of predictions. Additionally, over the last one hundred and fifty years, no single discovery has been made, which has been in contradiction with the predictions made. Darwin made predictions about the fossil fuels, which were later tested and proven true. According to Thagard & Findlay (2010), Darwin’s argument on the common ancestry that exists between human beings and apes has also been found to be true through the use of modern genetics. Additionally, all the experiments that have been made in molecular biology and modern genetics have confirmed the truth of Darwin’s propositions. The theory of natural selection therefore displays a coherent and testable prediction with regards to the origin, and the changes in organisms within a species over time.
Evidence for Evolution
Darwin’s Finches
Darwin examined a vast number of species, which can be used as evidence to support his theory of evolution by natural selection. His main area of interest and study were isolated islands such as Galapagos Islands, which are geographically alienated from the rest of the world. Darwin proposed that this geographical separation impacted genetic differentiation due to gene mutation and natural selection. Darwin uses the thirteen species of finches in these islands to demonstrate his theory. The bird species, which is well known as the Darwin’s Finches, can be traced back to the American mainland before relocating to Galapagos. In the modern day, there are a number of diverse species of finches with different characteristics, habitats, diets, and behaviors. Studies indicate that one year of drought in Galapagos can impact a number of evolutionary changes in the birds ( Richards, 2016) . Drought results in the reduction of cracked nuts, and fosters the prevalence of plants which produce larger and tougher nuts. As a result, only the stronger species among the various types of Finches species are able to break the nuts and feed on them, resulting in the survival of birds with these survival traits.
The Fossil Record
Through fossil records, past and modern species can be evaluated and the size of the body and mind, as well as, locomotion, diet and other aspects determined. Additionally, fossils enable scientists to differentiate the size of the human skull and the mind, through studying earliest forms of hominid skulls, which have been retrieved from places such as morocco, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Additionally, fossils that have been found in Dmanisi in Georgia have proven that human ancestral species were Homo erectus. The skulls are dated back to one point eight million years back.
Similar Structures
Scientists have identified a similarity between the skeletons of human beings, mice, and bats, regardless of the diverse ways of life each of these animals have, as well as the diversity of environments in which they reside in. Despite these similarities, human beings write, bats fly, and mice run, with structures made up of bones which are distinctive, but the same when it comes to the general structure. The structures are in modern day referred to as homologies and are most effectively explained by a common descent. The similarities can be attributed to a mutual vertebrate ancestor of all the three species ( Richards, 2016) .
Furthermore, mammals have a single bone in the lower jaw, while reptiles have multiple. Other bones that are found in the jaws of reptiles are homologous with bones, which are now present in the mammalian ear. The discovery of mammal like reptiles such as the Therapsida, which has a dual jaw joint, one comprising of bones found in the mammalian jaws and the other containing bones which have become the anvil of the ear of a mammal, is a significant proof of Darwin’s claims. Animals within the same species can acquire different and remarkable traits based on the environment and conditions they are exposed to. Furthermore, these animals evolve gradually, and the new characteristics take a considerable amount of time to be noticed.
Drivers of Evolution
Two major factors can be said to be the major drivers of evolution. Mutation is the core contributor of significant changes in DNA. Living organisms have genetic material which is prone to be subjected to change. According to Richards (2016) the traits of an organism are determined by its genetic code. An organism is basically what it is, due to its genetic code. As a result, gene mutation results in the emergence of new organisms, with different traits, which dominate over other same species due to their ability to compete and survive.
Natural selection is also a major driver of evolution, as proposed by Charles Darwin. Through natural selection, stronger organisms within a single species are able to adopt to different changes in the ecosystem. Weaker organisms are unable to compete with the stronger species and therefore die and become extinct in the process. Consequently, the remaining population is basically comprised of a new species, whose traits can accommodate the harsh conditions that are present in the world ( Thagard & Findlay, 2010). As a result, these species give rise to new and stronger organisms, which prevail and replace the existing ones. Evolution is promoted by gene mutation and most importantly, natural selection.
Conclusion
Charles Darwin is a well-known contributor to the theory of evolution. Darwin’s natural selection theory is far more effective than other evolution theories due to its simplicity, high justification power, and most importantly, its predictive success. Furthermore, scientists have been able to put Darwin’s claims to the test, and have determined the truth behind his arguments. Through natural selection, new organisms emerge and replace the existing ones, who are unable to meet the competition posed by new and stronger species. Darwin attributes extinction to the theory of natural section. According to him, the strong prevail and the weak are obliterated.
References
Duckworth, R. A. (2009). The role of behavior in evolution: a search for mechanism. Evolutionary ecology , 23 (4), 513-531.
Richards, R. J. (2016). Darwin’s theory of natural selection and its moral purpose. Debates in Nineteenth-Century European Philosophy: Essential Readings and Contemporary Responses , 211-225.
Thagard, P., & Findlay, S. (2010). Getting to Darwin: Obstacles to accepting evolution by natural selection. Science & Education , 19 (6-8), 625-636.
