What is evolution?
Evolution is a theory that explains the changes that occur in things throughout time. Evolution can occur in both living and non-living things. The earth has be proven to change over time and is still changing. Charles Darwin is given credit for the discovery of evolution with the help of Erasmus Darwin (his grandfather) and Jean Baptiste Lamarck who was the first person to suggest the idea of evolution. Erasmus Darwin strongly influenced Charles Darwin, and he believed that over time, organisms would change and evolve. The problem was that Erasmus Darwin did not have any proof or evidence because he didn't know how organisms were changing. Jean Baptist Lamarck also believed that evolution was occurring, and proposed the "Theory of Use-Disuse" (Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics).
Charles Darwin is credited with coming up with the theory of evolution, or in his words, "Decent with Modification", which is now referred to as Gradualism. While developing his theory, Darwin noticed finches on the galapagos islands which appeared related, but with slightly different beaks on each island. He complied his evidence and developed his theory of evolution.
Evolution occurs due to natural selection. The best adapted and fittest of a population are more likely to survive and mate with other fit members of the population, passing on their better adapted genes. There are two types of evolution: micro-evolution and macro-evolution. Micro-evolution refers to changes happening within one species while macro-evolution is the change of one species into a different species. Micro-evolution includes ways that change the gene pool which are natural selection, mutations, genetic drift, gene flow and non-random mating. Macro-evolution contains two types of speciation: divergent and convergent. Divergent is when a small group of a population is isolated from the rest of the population and begins evolving and adapting on their own to their new environment. Convergent evolution happens when two unrelated species come into a new environment and adapt leading to them displaying similar characteristics.
Overall, I think evolution is the changes that occur over long periods of time as organisms adapt to new environments in order to survive.
Charles Darwin is credited with coming up with the theory of evolution, or in his words, "Decent with Modification", which is now referred to as Gradualism. While developing his theory, Darwin noticed finches on the galapagos islands which appeared related, but with slightly different beaks on each island. He complied his evidence and developed his theory of evolution.
Evolution occurs due to natural selection. The best adapted and fittest of a population are more likely to survive and mate with other fit members of the population, passing on their better adapted genes. There are two types of evolution: micro-evolution and macro-evolution. Micro-evolution refers to changes happening within one species while macro-evolution is the change of one species into a different species. Micro-evolution includes ways that change the gene pool which are natural selection, mutations, genetic drift, gene flow and non-random mating. Macro-evolution contains two types of speciation: divergent and convergent. Divergent is when a small group of a population is isolated from the rest of the population and begins evolving and adapting on their own to their new environment. Convergent evolution happens when two unrelated species come into a new environment and adapt leading to them displaying similar characteristics.
Overall, I think evolution is the changes that occur over long periods of time as organisms adapt to new environments in order to survive.