- Published: September 13, 2022
- Updated: September 13, 2022
- University / College: The University of Edinburgh
- Language: English
- Downloads: 20
Theory of Natural Selection Remains Controversial
Many people usually think that evolution has never taken place and thus is something nobody has ever claimed of witnessing it happening right before their eyes. The topic concerning natural selection has resulted too many controversies that stir heated debates on who is right and who is not right. However, it is very advisable for people to consider the evidences produced through a distinctive study of fossils found in the past. Many commentators argue that evolution under such an intense population usually takes place at a very high pace such that only a few people discover the process. Many debates have concentrated on issues surrounding the evolution theory such as whether evolution took place, new species are being created, and old ones are continually dying. Commentators have accepted the idea of Darwin due to bulk evidences being discovered on a regular basis.
One of the key Controversies being debated may include the question whether human species evolved only in Africa. It is evident that some of the paleontologists have never accepted the last stage or phrase of this story (Johnson 3). This implies that they normally reject the out-of-Africa concept, which claims that the Homo sapiens evolved in the land of Africa and then migrated to the other parts of the world. They support the continuity theory, which states that earlier human species migrated out of Africa and to other parts of the world such as Asia and Europe, where they evolved significantly. This evolution period was believed to be approximately two million years. These experts believe that African, Asian, and European lineages evolved separately, thereby, adapting to the local condition, even though they were related to evolutionarily by the occasional migration. As a result of the evolution, discrete human races have developed, which tend to facilitate genes exchange that prevented a main genetic differences from continuing or persisting. Due to such persistence, no race has managed to become and develop a separate species. Eventually, this developing stream of the populations fully evolved to become the Homo sapiens.
The controversy has brought many challenges in determining, who is right or wrong. Therefore, one of the obvious ways to tackle this problem without even resorting to the statistical shenanigans is to exploit the genetic variations in order to make significant comparisons from humans from Europe, Africa, and Asia (Johnson 3).
Review Natural Selection/Human Evolution
Natural selection is mainly the engine that triggers evolution. The organisms, which are best suited to survive especially in their special circumstances have a greater opportunity of passing their characteristics and traits to the next generation. It is obvious that plants and animals usually interact in a very complex manner with other organisms as well as environment. Due to the presence of some vital factors or aspects, an amazingly diverse living environment is formed on the planet earth.
It is evident that the evolution theory triggers a lot of controversies even though it has been backed by several evidences. A number of fossils have been discovered, thereby, paving way for the scientists to extend their study appropriately. Through comprehending natural selection, individuals are in a position to learn why various plants produce cyanide, how animals mainly emerge from the sea to live in dry land as well as why animals such as rabbits produces many offspring. Charles Darwin developed the natural selection concept alongside the misinterpreted evolutionary catchphrase “ survival for the fittest.” With the assistance of Darwin, individuals as well as scientists are able to understand how natural selection created the astonishing diversity and complexity of life on the planet Earth. Understanding the authenticity of evolution is very vital in that one can be in a position to compare the traits of past generation and current. Evolution is rotates around change. Every living creature has all its construction encoded around a special chemical structure commonly known as DNA. It is through the DNA that experts are able to trace chemicals that mainly provide the vital traits, which can be used to identify as well as categorizing the sequence known as the genes. Additionally, the part of every gene that usually results in the fluctuating expression of traits is known as an allele. Since a trait refers to an expression of an allele, obvious the tendency of a specific trait to show up in the population is commonly regarded as allele frequency (Johnson 3). Therefore, evolution can typically be defined as the change in allele frequencies over a long duration of time.
Biological fitness is seen as a vital key of natural selection. It is defined as the ability and capability of an organism to survive successfully for a long period of time enough to reproduce. This implies that organisms usually have the capability to reproduce well especially if all the condition necessary for its survival are present and conducive. Therefore, fitness and natural selection are thoroughly explained by Darwin, who made a close observation on the wildlife across the globe. In a layman’s language, Darwin stresses on the origin of distinct species. According to Darwin, each organism can show or portray the variation of traits. Darwin argues that more organisms are being born more than the earth would handle or provide resources for its survival.
A study revealed that African elephants usually have larger tusks than any other elephants across the globe. The ivory of these tusks are mainly valued by some individuals, and thus hunters have chased them, hence killing them tearing out their tusks (Johnson 3). Most of the hunters have killed elephants, tear off their tusks, and sell them at a higher price for many decades. Some of the African elephants usually portray a rare trait, which is the fact that they never develop any tusk at all. It was unveiled that, in the 1930s, about 1% of the elephants in Africa had no tusks. On the other hand, hunters did not bother killing them since they never had any ivory to recover. Elephants that had tusks were chased and killed even before they had the opportunity to reproduce. All the alleles for no tusks were only passed along for over few generations (Grabianowski 3). Evidently, approximately 38% of elephants existing in today’s world have no tusks. This situation is seen as a bad ending for most of these elephants that have no tusks since they use the tusks for defense and digging.
Hunting has brought a mischief to the elephants since the parties involved only go for those elephants that have tusks living behind those that lack it. It is very certain that those with tusks are being killed at higher rate, thereby, living no traces of the existence of such animals. Finding elephants that have tusks nowadays is very hard since most of them are mercilessly killed due to human greed.
Works Cited
Grabianowski, Ed. “ How Natural Selection Works”. How Stuff Works. 2013. Print
Johnson George. Human Evolution: The Scientists Studying Human Origins Are Engaged In
Lively Debate. Txtwriter. 2013. Print