Module 1: Reflection Prompt

 In my own words I would describe evolution to be genetic change over time that is influenced by the environment around the organism. The environment aspect of this statement is incredibly important. If an organism were to undergo a genetic mutation that caused a change that inevitably did not work in the environment they lived in they would be more likely to die off, with lower chances of reproducing and propagating that mutation. Conversely, if a organism were to undergo a genetic mutation that caused a change allowing the organism to operate better in its environment then it would be more likely to reproduce and pass that mutation down. This itself would be evolution. 

I believe that evolution is theory. I believe this because it is unknown what the original form of life on earth is. This in itself makes it impossible to draw life all the way back to the original source to show exactly how evolution started or exactly began. This is a tricky question though because while evolution itself in my head is a theory, it has very strong support through many facts. It is a fact that evolution does happen. We can see that in short term through things like bacterial antibiotic resistance (FIGURE 1). Or a little more long term with things like vestigial organs. However, when I hear this question it just makes me think of the overarching idea of beginning of life to now. Which is why I still say it is a theory if I am to choose one. 


FIGURE 1
This image is what comes to mind when I think about bacterial antibiotic resistance. Between that first quadrant and the next (dark blue --> light blue), a mutation allowed a strain of bacteria to grow into the stronger antibiotic agar. This continues to happen through each color (light blue--> green-->orange and so on). This displays evolution in this short term experiment and can show how some mutations are beneficial to an organism allowing it to propagate. 


Comments

  1. Taylor DavisonSeptember 2, 2021 at 10:23 AM

    Kate,
    I really like your definition of evolution, and especially the emphasis you placed on the role of a species environment. This is something that often gets over looked, and was something that I also forgot to take into account when creating my own definition. Environment is so important as it is often what the species is adapting to and if that component is removed then the question would become why evolution even occurs.

    - Taylor

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  2. Evolution: Haley JonesSeptember 2, 2021 at 4:36 PM

    Hi Kate,
    I really like how you tied in the idea that the environment is a major factor in the process of evolution because without a driver there is no real pressure placed on an organism to adapt to its surroundings. This kind of idea ties into natural selection and the impact that process has on the direction of evolution. You mentioned that the evolution is the change to survive and reproduce with new environmental pressure, but I think that even the change negatively can be constituted as evolution, but it is just less likely to continue a genetic line due to natural selection. Your ideas behind why evolution is a theory are also compelling, and I agree that we can say without a doubt that evolution occurs.

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  3. megstSeptember 27, 2021 at 8:46 PM

    I really like you definition about how a genetic change come from mutation for specie to better adapted to environment. i really have a passion for antibiotic resistance as i work a whole year with a program that was looking for new treatment to replace antibiotics.

    ReplyDelete

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