What kind of practical applications does evolutionary theory yield?

Question

Practical application in genetics, biology, medicine, etc?

C'mon, folks... a few more answers, huh? Not that I dislike NH Baritone's response as he's brilliant!

Answer 1

It is the foundation of all of modern biology. It is the back bone of the taxonomic system. It allows us to understand the origins of different species and identify them. This plays a large role in wetland delineation, searching plants for pharmaceuticals, and the preservation of endangered species. The theory of evolution is also very important to the horticultural industry, since random mutations are used to create new cultivars, and understanding a plant's past can allow us to make those mutations a little less random. It also plays a huge role in the medical industry by allowing us to understand viral and bacterial transformation by identifying which DNA strands are a part of the cells normal genetic makeup and which were absorbed through transformation (The gene that makes cells immune to penicillin was obtained in this way). Evolution also plays a huge role in genetics, since evolution is pretty much the history part of genetics. Without any understanding of the past, we never would have decoded as much of the human genome as we have.

Answer 2

There is more than one theory. Seems that each field of study has it's own take on it. The practicalness of the theory is that it gives a belief system to scientist to hang onto. Humans are designed to believe in something in order to operate. However the problem as in religion is that often facts are only sought that fit the belief rather than letting discovery and facts form the theory. Evolution was invented before the facts were obtained so therefore it is not based in any fact. Discoveries were made that religion could not explain very well and therefore evolutionist attribute that they must support evolution to that end.

If you understand that there is a difference in God and religion you begin to understand that religion is what you need to function, not what God is really about. There are facts about God and religion is only the vague understanding of those facts at man's level.

Likewise evolution is a religion of scientist but is only a vague understanding of science itself. Evolution like religion was invented by a man, has a bible and then followers. It even has various denominations and rival belief systems with facts that seem to contradict each other.

If you take the facts of God and of science you might find they are congruent and fit a much more accurate picture of things. A prime example of this is I met a geneticist and they were telling me that trans-species evolving is not possible for a variety of reasons. Now this is an evolutionist. Recently geneticist taking DNA samples from a variety of cultures around the world conclusively proved that the human race around 10 to 20 thousand years ago undergone a huge dip in population. It is now called the Big Dip where there were less than a thousand people on this earth at one time. The geneticist stated that the margin of error can be even to where there were only a few people. This proof indicates that there might have been an Adam and Eve after all.

My theory is that evolution and religion will become one someday and will direct people to a similar understanding and belief system. However that belief system will be something no one expected in the end.

Answer 3

Well, understanding antibiotic-resistant bacteria, for one.
The selective pressures the sort of motivate - push it along, if you will - evolution can also be used to our advantage. Take, for example, nearly every domesticated animal and plant in use today. The banana I so enjoy today is a product of selective production, that's not nature at its finest.
Applied evolution is also extremely important for biomedical research.
It even surpasses biology. Genetic algorithms (a programming technique that allows the program to consider a range of possible alternatives and then evaluate them all based on their relative fitness to the problem at hand) and evolutionary computing has been used to solve problems in mathematics, molecular biology, robotics, chemistry, and astrophysics.

Answer 4

Here's one that you may hate me for mentioning right now, but I also wonder if it is an answer you want to hear:

Understanding gender differences. The different sexual motivations of males (quantity of youthful mates) and females (quality of mates) is predicted by evolutionary theory.

If you want, I can talk to you about the experience of being on the other side of this divide...

Answer 5

The theory of evolution can help us understand how viruses and certain bacteria evolve and adapt to our resistance. It can help us understand the origins of species, such as the human race, and other mammals. Evolution has been the basis for all of taxonomy - the science of classifying organisms into groups, to better understand their characteristsics and abilities.

Answer 6

You really can't do biology without it. The similarities and differences from one species to another are based on evolution. And unless you want to do all your experiments on humans, you need to know the significance of experiments done on other animals in deciding whether a given drug is worth human trials, whether an over-the-counter drug or cosmetic is safe, how to make domestic animals more resistant to the diseases that they can transmit to humans, etc. Of course virus and bacteria and fungus and so on that effect humans need to be understood in the way their populations change in response to changing circumstances.

I'm not a scientist, so I can't explain all the details, but when someone uses the term "creationist science," remember that really is an oxymoron.

Answer 7

I read recently about a team of scientists that are studying the DNA of chimps and apes, because there are certain diseases that they are less susceptible to than we are. Considering how closely related we are, they think they might be able to use the information to help prevent the diseases in humans. If I can find a link to the article I'll post it.

Answer 8

It predicts that changes will occur with bacterial and viral mutations. It can help us determine which parts of these cells seem to persist, and therefore would be more consistently subject to antibiotic and antiviral medications.

It allows for the tracing back of plants and animals to earlier forms, and can help us to understand what can possibly happen in the event of a serious environmental disaster.

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