30 Sep 2022

78

Why Darwin's Theory of Evolution is an Essential Aspect of Defining Human Living and Development

Format: APA

Academic level: College

Paper type: Essay (Any Type)

Words: 1030

Pages: 4

Downloads: 0

 Charles Darwin came up with the theory of biological evolution by natural selection. According to Darwin, evolution is "descent with modification," the notion that organisms modify gradually over time giving rise to new organisms that have a common ancestry ( Richards, 2016) . The idea holds it that plants, animals are all related. His general theory deduces the growth of living organisms from non-life and emphasizes "undirected" development with changes. That is, sophisticated species progress from simpler ancestors over time, naturally. Richards (2016) postulated that Darwin's random genetic changes take place in a given organism's genetic make-up with the preserved modifications to assist in survival, what he termed as "natural selection." Thus, the favourable changes are passed on to future species. Gradually, with time, desirable mutations result in a different species, an entirely altered organism. 

Natural Selection 

Richards (2016) argued that a lthough the theory is comparatively young, the general evolutionary perception is old. Anaximander, a Greek philosopher, hypothesized that the growth of organisms from non-life in addition to the evolutionary origin of human beings from an animal. Thus Charles Darwin introduced a new philosophical concept-the conceivable concept known as "natural selection." It acted as a preserve for accumulative minute benefits of genetic changes. For example, if a member of an organism develops a beneficial functionality (such as learning to fly), it's offspring's will take on the advantage and pass it to their future generations. The disadvantage organisms of the groups lacking the same would progressively die giving room to only advantaged or superior members of the group ( Richards, 2016) . Natural selection remains a preserve of the advantage that provides others with species the ability to compete effectively within their natural habitat. It is the same as domestic breeding. For a long time in life, progressive changes have been observed in the domestication of animals primarily through selective individual breeding. Animals with unfavourable or undesirable attributes are gradually eliminated. In the same way, natural selection excludes disadvantaged organisms over time, increasingly. 

It’s time to jumpstart your paper!

Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.

Get custom essay

In 'On the Origin of Species', Darwin clarified natural selection and evolution. His ideologies were as a result of direct engagement and observation around the world. According to Richards (2016) Darwin carried out much of his view while on a survey expedition that made stops in Australia, Africa, and South America. He catalogued his observations that included fascinating patterns on how organisms were distributed in addition to their features. According to his description of finches founded in the Galapagos Islands, the birds had the same but non-identical organisms. For example, the groups that consumed larger seeds had sturdy and large beaks. 

On the other hand, species that fed on insects only had pointed and sharp beaks. At the same time, Darwin observed that finches habiting the Galapagos Islands had the same type of species with finches founded in Ecuador. However, the species were unlike any other founded in other parts of the world. 

Through his observation that included various distinct species, Darwin came up with the ideology that showed patterns in diverse finches. He postulated that the trend could have resulted many years ago from species of birds from other closer neighboring environments. For the settings, the finches may have taken the conditions of the local places over a long period. Through this process, Darwin argued that it could have led to a distinct organism on every environment that the species occupied ( Richards 2016) . From the observations, Darwin proposed that organisms modify over time with new organisms originating from pre-existing organisms but share the same lineage of ancestors. In each grouping, Darwin argued that every organism showed unique genetic diversities that accumulated for an extended period. As new organisms split-off from their ancestries, they produced different "tree-level" of living species. 

How this theory was a major advance over prior ideas as to how organisms changed over time 

Darwin's theory was a significant advance in describing how life and living species are closely connected and related. It also shows significant progress on life's diversity as a result of constant change and modification by natural selection whereby given preferred attributes and traits are favored within the natural habitat over others. Its significance has further been best designated as "survival of the fittest." Here, the fitness of a species can best be described as having the ability to reproduce and survive within its habitat ( Richards 2016) . For example, in the modern age of technology and development, a study published in the "Personality and Individual Differences" noted that some individuals find it difficult to find mates due to "challenges in the domain of mating." According to the author Menlaos Apostolos, these challenges are significant as a result of the individuals living in a habitat that is different from their environment of evolution or that they evolved and brought up. 

Driving forces for evolutionary change 

The primary forces of evolution include natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutation. Mutation describes a heritable modification in the chromosome make up of gene composition. It results in substitutions, deletions, and additions of nitrogen bases in the main Deoxyribonucleic acid sequence. DNA refers to two chains coiling around each other and forming a helix that carries gene instructions for reproduction, growth, functioning, and development of all organisms. According to Richards (2016) m utation has the possibility of creating neutral traits, deletions, or advantages for a given species. Gene flow outlines how gene materials flow between two given species. It thus works by lowering dissimilarities between two various species or populaces. For example, in the case gene flow is prevalent, two species or populace can take up similar allele tendencies forming a single grouping. Genetic drift, on the other hand, refers to the random modification, especially in gene occurrence from one group species to another. Richards (2016) further maintained that i t has more impact on a small populace that often result in gene drift towards fixation with all group entities possessing the gene. Natural selection, as described above, refers to the process by which some species have better probabilities of reproduction and survival as compared to others of the same population. These animals best placed to survive often have good tendencies of adapting to a given environment. As such, they pass on the right attributes and traits to their succeeding offspring's.  Those with less advantageous characteristics gradually die off. 

Conclusion 

Darwin’s theory of evolution postulated that all life is connected and interrelated, all descending from one single ancestor. Notably, it presumed that the growth of life as a whole originated from non-life to naturalistic modifications over time. Due to the random mutation characteristic of species, beneficial traits are kept that helps organisms to survive in their natural environment. The functional features are then passed on to next species along the generational lineage. With time, the changes result in a completely different species with some level of variation but a different organism. Darwin’s theory has played a vital role within the scientific and sociology field is expanding various attributes of life and has remained an essential aspect of defining human living and development.  

Reference 

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. chrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.591.8225&rep=rep1&type=pdf   

Illustration
Cite this page

Select style:

Reference

StudyBounty. (2023, September 15). Why Darwin's Theory of Evolution is an Essential Aspect of Defining Human Living and Development .
https://studybounty.com/why-darwins-theory-of-evolution-is-an-essential-aspect-of-defining-human-living-and-development-essay

illustration

Related essays

We post free essay examples for college on a regular basis. Stay in the know!

17 Sep 2023
Biology

How the heart pumps blood

How the heart pumps blood The heart is a fundamental organ in the human body as well as in the bodies of all other mammals. For the human being, the heart is found in the thoracic cavity, centrally located behind...

Words: 454

Pages: 1

Views: 391

17 Sep 2023
Biology

Effects of Wolf Predation on Elk Group Size

Ecological studies suggest that the restoration or the introduction of wolfs into areas with large numbers of elks have led to the decrease in the size of elk groups as well as their general size. Elks respond to...

Words: 1698

Pages: 6

Views: 398

17 Sep 2023
Biology

Strelitzia reginae: the structure and function of the three types of plant tissue

Introduction The three main plant tissue types include vascular, dermal and ground tissues. The dermis of the plants serves the same function as the dermis on the animals. Its main role is protection of the...

Words: 2351

Pages: 9

Views: 232

17 Sep 2023
Biology

Cystic Fibrosis, How it Affects the Respiratory System

Cystic Fibrosis, How it Affects the Respiratory System Introduction/Overview of the Respiratory System The human respiratory system is a crucial, yet extremely exposed system within the body. The exposure is based...

Words: 983

Pages: 3

Views: 184

17 Sep 2023
Biology

The role of the PH scale in the health of a person

The PH scale is numeric and always indicates the levels of hydrogen ions in a solution or a substance. It is used to ascertain the acidity or the basicity level of a substance. The level of acidity is always expected...

Words: 306

Pages: 1

Views: 143

17 Sep 2023
Biology

The analysis of the different organs injury: a case with two arrow wounds

The given scenario involves a patient that was brought to the Emergency Department and had two arrow wounds. The first arrow is on the left side and it entered anteriorly between the 7th and 8th ribs through a...

Words: 1596

Pages: 5

Views: 159

illustration

Running out of time?

Entrust your assignment to proficient writers and receive TOP-quality paper before the deadline is over.

Illustration