Discover the Biological Sciences
The introductory information for this site has been contributed as a joint assignment by students in Bio. Sci. 10.
Evolution
By: Tatyana Krivoshey
Evolution
1) Biological field or sub-topic chosen: Evolution is a process that results in heritable changes in a population spread over many generations. In biology, evolution is the change in the inherited traits of a population from generation to generation. These traits are the of genes that are copied and passed on to offspring during reproduction. Mutations in these genes can produce new or altered traits, resulting in heritable differences organisms. Evolution occurs when these heritable differences become more common or rare in a population, either non-randomly through natural selection or randomly through genetic drift. Human evolution is the part of biological evolution concerning the emergence of humans as a distinct species. It is the subject of a broad scientific inquiry that seeks to understand and describe how this change and development occurred. The study of human evolution encompasses many scientific disciplines, most notably physical anthropology, linguistics and genetics. The term "human", in the context of human evolution, refers to the genus Homo, but studies of human evolution usually include other hominins, such as the australopithecines
2) Define field or sub-topic: Darwinism; ... The term "Darwinism", has numerous meanings depending on who has used the term and at what period. A better understanding of the meaning of this term is only one reason to call attention to the composite nature of Darwin's evolutionary thought. The theory of evolution by natural selection was first proposed by Charles Darwin. This powerful explanatory and predictive theory has become the central organizing principle of modern biology, providing a unifying explanation for the diversity of life on Earth.
3) Describe in more detail the breath and depth of what could be studied or learned within this topic:
Where did our planet earth come from and how humans evolved.
4) Focusing on one major concept, principle, or group of organisms (as appropriate within the topic), describe its importance, relationships, functional aspects, or otherwise explain it in more depth as seems important to you and (potentially) the others in class:
Evolution in biology, the continual process by which one form of life changes, or evolves, into another form. The theory of evolution suggests that all plants and animals descended from one or several kinds of simple organisms. It also explains why there are so many different kinds of plants and animals.
Biology the study of living things. The biologist studies plants and animals their structures, the ways in which they live, and the physical and chemical processes that take place within them. Biology is concerned with all forms of life, from man to microbes, from whales and trees to insects and molds, from entire forests to single blades of glass. Relationships between biology and evolution is biological constitution.
5) In studying and discovering more about this topic, what was the most interesting aspect, fact or some other piece of information that you have learned. History of world and evolution. The history of the world, by convention, is human history, from the first appearance of Homo sapiens to the present. Human history is marked both by a gradual accretion of discoveries and inventions, as well as by quantum leaps — paradigm shifts, and revolutions — that comprise epochs in the material and spiritual evolution of humankind.
6) References – provide references used and at least two Web sites with additional information on this topic (or sub-topic) for anyone that would like to learn more: www.wikipedia.com. www.talkorigins.org
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