What is your definition of evolution?

Question

Don't you think it would be a good idea to understand the other person's point of view before we agree or disagree with a person?

I've seen so many misconceptions about evolution on both sides of the argument. Many times it's because one person's understanding of evolution is totally different from another person's understanding. When that happens we're just talking past each other.

Describe it. Give examples.

I'm ready to listen. I want to understand you before I agree or disagree with you.

Answer 1

In biology it means descent with modification. A change in the genes and heritable characteristics within a population over succeeding generations.

More broadly, it is the underlying unifying theory of biology, which explains the mechanisms of speciation from a common ancestor through gradual divergence of heritable characteristics. This is the result of a variety of different kinds of mutations or copying variations during reproduction, worked upon by a variety of processes such as natural selection.

Answer 2

My definition of evolution is this:
First, though this has nothing to do with evolution, abiogenesis. pre-preprotobacteria was formed by the most complicated mess of chemicals and heat. Viruses also formed around the same time. These things died out and restarted thousands of times before it stuck, and life replicated enough to evolve. Viruses and mutation caused evolution. Here's what happened most, though, viruses are weird things. They like spread their DNA into a host and it uses those instructions to produce more of itself. The instructions of the virus sometimes mix with that of the host, and you get a changed thing. Mutation occurs independent of viral activity, and it also creates a changed species. So life got more complex, the 'instructions'--that's what DNA is, really, just instructions for the building of something. They got more complicated as new data was added from viruses and mutation. As this happened, the strong traits survived and the weak ones died out. After 'sexual reproduction' viral mutation became even harder, because the virus actually generally had to effect the sperm DNA itself, or the egg and that would cause the leap. This is why bacteria and viruses have an easier time evolving quickly than we do. So it became rarer, but over the course of hundreds of millions of opportunities it isn't a 'chance' at all, it will happen. So fish evolved into lizards and mammalian creatures, dinosaurs were born, died, mammals survived, turned into proto-ape creatures which split off and became us and modern monkeys. Continental drift played a major role in the diversification of species, and things in different areas evolved uniquely differently.

Answer 3

Evolution is the natural selection of favorable heritable variations which are the result of genetic mutation.

Example: Yeast grown in glucose poor media develop additional glucose transporters by gene duplication.

Example: Finches arrive at a remote island group and adapt to fill all the available ecological niches.

Answer 4

There is no such thing as "a personal definition of a scientific concept". Evolution is the genetic change in living things over time through such methods as genetic drift, mutation, speciation, adaptation, gene flow, and natural selection.

its nothing more than that. It does not talk about abiogenesis. There is no personal interpretation. It is not like religion where everyones interpretation is different.

So knock it off.

Answer 5

When I am talking about it within the confines of this message board, it is usually the gradual genetic drifting to eventually create a whole new species.
Some people clearly didnt care to hear what I meant by evolution in my last question because all they wanted to do was tell me how ignorant I was, even though what I was describing was scientifically accurate.

I understand there is a broader definition of evolution but lets face it, when most people are talking about evolution in here they are talking about how humans were created thru evolution.



Fate
obviously the dictionary disagrees with you since it gives 10 diff definitions

ev·o·lu·tion /ˌɛvəˈluʃən or, especially Brit., ˌivə-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ev-uh-loo-shuhn or, especially Brit., ee-vuh-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. any process of formation or growth; development: the evolution of a language; the evolution of the airplane.
2. a product of such development; something evolved: The exploration of space is the evolution of decades of research.
3. Biology. change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift.
4. a process of gradual, peaceful, progressive change or development, as in social or economic structure or institutions.
5. a motion incomplete in itself, but combining with coordinated motions to produce a single action, as in a machine.
6. a pattern formed by or as if by a series of movements: the evolutions of a figure skater.
7. an evolving or giving off of gas, heat, etc.
8. Mathematics. the extraction of a root from a quantity. Compare involution (def. 8).
9. a movement or one of a series of movements of troops, ships, etc., as for disposition in order of battle or in line on parade.
10. any similar movement, esp. in close order drill

Answer 6

Evolution is defined as a change in allele frequencies in a population over time. That this occurs is not in question.

Answer 7

I'm on the side of science. I "believe" the fact of evolution as science describes it, without twisting it around in a Biblical sense.

Answer 8

off the top of my head, the gradual change of living things in response to environmental stimuli. Environmental being random mutation due to accidents in replication or damage to DNA, sexual selection, "survival of the fittest", and other factors

But I do tend to agree with Fate, nobody would even consider asking "what's your personal definition of Gravity?"

Answer 9

God created all things, and then they evolved.
Evolution is happening all the time. It didn't stop 30,000 years ago.
Life is evolving right now.
Mutation is one of the first steps of evolution. The mutation of individuals can lead to the evolution of a species.

Answer 10

Decent with modification