Evolution as a slow and steady process?

Question

i looked but didnt find anything do you know what it is?

Answer 1

Alledgedly, evolution occurs over millions of years and 1000's of generations. Needless to say, it cannot be proven or disproven scientifically since no one was there to witness it hence, its theory and nothing more.

Answer 2

The answer is that evolution can be a slow and steady process (phyletic gradualism) but it can also occur over short time spans as well (punctuated equilibrium). For example after the last great extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous era there was a huge expansion of the mammalian group of animals because most of the ecological niches occupied by dinosaurs became available for other species to exploit. Prior to the extinction of the dinosaurs, the only mammalian fossils paleontologists have found were from small ground dwelling mammals similar to modern rodents. All of the warm blooded mammals to day from bats to whales, from seals to elephants were all descended from these earlier forms. This model of evolution is known as punctuated equilibrium. Punctuated equilibrium occurs when some major change in the Eco system or environment creates room for more generalized forms of life to become specialized into particular geographical areas or niches in the environment so that there is an explosion of new species. After the new species have evolved to fill the available niches, the types of species may remain relatively unchanged until the next major event. The evolution of marsupials to be the dominant type of mammal species in Australia is an example of how a population of creatures can become isolated, in this case by the ocean and can spread to occupy the same type of niche that may be used by some other animal in another place. In Australia the Red Kangaroo (a marsupial mammal) exploits the same niche as the White Tailed deer (a placental mammal) of North America does. Punctuated equilibrium also explains why we have fossil remains of the evolution of specific species such as the whale and the horse showing some of the intermediate forms betwen the modern animals but not a gradually changing set of fossils that show the totality of changes, if creatures evolve mostly in jerks in which changes in the form of a creature occur over just a few dozens or hundreds of generations the likelihood that those individuals that were intermediate between the stable populations would be preserved in the fossil record is small. If you need a more comprehinsive treatment of the subject please read the article written by Steven J. Gould listed in sources below.

Answer 3

Evolution is a slow and steady process because, generally, only minor variations (aka mutations) of the DNA occur from generation to generation. Lets consider turtles as an example. Every new turtle is slightly different from its parents due to DNA variations that occur randomly (you don't need to know the details of how/why genetic mutations occur, just assume they do occur almost randomly). Those variations that are favorable (like a stronger shell in a turtle, which helps it survive) are passed on to the next generation through reproduction, while the variations that are unfavorable (like a weak shell in a turtle, which makes it an easy target) die. Because the turtle with the stronger shell survived, it reproduces and creates more strong-shelled turtles. Over time, only the turtles with strong shells will be left (because the ones with the weaker shells were not able to reproduce, they got killed by predators). Shell is only one component, a turtle can also be small or large, grey or black, with legs or with flippers, etc. Over time, through natural selection (the unfovarable variations die), all these components and many more will create new species of turtles that are best suited to the environment where they live. Obviously turtles that live in the water will be very different than turtles that live on land because different variations are favorable in different environments (flippers will be favorable in the water, but not on land, hence, sea turtles have flippers).

Answer 4

Rea, its pretty silly to say that evolution "stopped". You expect to see species change right before your eyes? This process takes thousands of years. Homo-sapiences (humans) are fairly modern species, they only appeared about 200,000 years ago, which is only a fraction of a second ago in Earth's 5 billion year old-history. Species like dogs and cats are also very modern, they evolved from wolfs and larger felines (much older species). Within species, you have variations that you can "observe" happing right before your eyes. New breeds of dogs are artifically created all the time, which could eventually lead to new species. Tigers and Lions have been mated, again, right before your eyes, and a new species was created 'instantly'. The reason why we don't have cure for AIDS is because that bacteria is constly evolving, right before our eyes! What about plants? Same thing, corn today is much larger than it was even 50 years ago. Evidence is all around you, you just have to open your eyes and see.

Answer 5

Not sure what you mean, but according to evolutionist, it has been a slow and steady process. One organism lives, survives, makes offspring that corrects for any flaws, lives, survives, over and over again for billions of years... I'd say thats pretty slow and steady. It certainly didnt happen overnight.. or it did if your a creationist but thats a whole nother topic.

Answer 6

it is not continually sluggish and secure. Darwin became into incorrect and did no longer thoroughly comprehend the mechanism. we've considering discovered that it is not sluggish in any respect while animals enter new niches that require substitute. that's amazingly sluggish and secure while animals are ideally acceptable for their atmosphere. considering they are ideal there is fairly little decision different than to maintain a definite type. the incontrovertible fact that people use that as a controversy against organic decision shows how lack of expertise is the main significant "evidence" of their arguments. there is likewise no such element as an animal it fairly is basically transitional even nonetheless all animals substitute. they are the two purely ignorant recommendations that misread what's fairly going on.

Answer 7

Look up "phyletic gradualism". It is the process by which favorable traits accrue over time. Every once in a while, either due to a highly favorable trait appearing due to mutation, new selective pressures, or expansion into new territory without significant selective pressures, relatively rapid changes can occur, "punctuated equilibrium".

Answer 8

The pace of evolution depends on the region of the country. Evolution is quickest in New York and California, but is slowest in and around Washington DC. Evolution hasn't even HIT Crawford Texas yet, which is why they sent an inbred monkey-boy to try to be president.

Answer 9

Evolution is more likely a 'jerky' process (often called 'punctuated equilibrium') with slow, general tendencies over long periods of time punctuated by periods of rapid change.

Google "punctuated equilibrium", or look it up on Wikipedia.

Answer 10

Did you ever think why evolution stopped? If it was true wouldn't we still be seeing evolution of different animals and man? I believe that we do adapt to different environments, but evolution is just a theory. We are so complex, not just a happening. When you look at a beautiful piece of art, do we say it evolved? We know that a talented artist painted the picture. It is ok to study and read about the theory, but don't forget to read and study about the creation account also.