2007-03-26 12:04:24 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection is one of the most robust yet elegant theories in science. It underpins most of the biological sciences, including medicine. It is simple in its premises. There are three general statements which can be viewed and understood by anyone. They are:
- Individuals within a particular species are not identical.
- Genetic traits are inherited
- Different individuals within a species will compete for survival and the chance to pass on their genetic material to as many offspring as possible.
Natural selection states that some individuals, due to their genetic traits, will have more offspring than others. For any number of reasons, they will be more successful. These traits will then be more prevalent in the species population. In this way, over many, many years, a species will change characteristics to be more suitable to its environment. If a species is split in two, and the two groups are geographically isolated from each other for a long time, say hundreds of thousands of years, they may evolve in different "directions, depending on varying environmental pressures. They could then become different species. This is what could have happened to Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.
2007-03-26 12:47:42 · answer #1 · answered by Labsci 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a load of crap.
2007-03-26 12:09:52 · answer #2 · answered by packerswes4 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋