Evolution
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The Theory
Darwin proposed other concepts that contribute to the idea of evolution.
Upon his visit to the Galapagos, Darwin noticed that the finches differed from each other in beak size and shape as they were also associated with different diets based on different food. From this observation, Darwin hypothesized that the original finches reached the islands and dispersed to different environments each carrying different traits, and those with favorable traits were able to withstand challenges in the environment and produce more offspring. This proposed hypothesis soon became the concept of branching evolution which implies the common descent of all species, and the occurrence of gradual changes in species over time. Darwin proposed one last contribution to the concept of evolution – natural selection – which provides the stepping stone for all scientific advancement that would soon follow in century to come.
NATURE'S SELECTION
BRANCHING EVOLUTION
NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON'T
BIOTECHNOLOGY
HARDY-WEINBERG
Another major addition to Darwin’s contributions is the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium which constitutes that allele frequency remains constant over time if the population remains in genetic equilibrium, meaning no evolution occurs. Five conditions for the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium to occur must take place that is utterly impossible in nature: random mating between the same species, no natural selection takes place, no mutation resulting in genetic changes, no addition to the population, and a very large population size. If one of these idealized conditions is broken, the equilibrium will be disordered, creating a genetic diversity, such as the addition of natural selection as what Darwin had proposed. The equation proposed to the theory explains that the equilibrium describes an idealistic state, and genotypic frequencies in nature can be measured and track from generations to another. The equation is p² + 2pq + q² = 1. P is defined as the frequency of the dominant allele, q as the frequency of the recessive allele. Due to the fact that natural selection is always occurring in our natural world as well as other occurrences such as inconsistency between species, gradual changes in species, and small genes mutation over time, like what Charles Darwin noted, evolution is an inevitable force in our world that drive genetic diversity.
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin, FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching ...
Born: February 12, 1809, Shrewsbury
Died: April 19, 1882, Down House
Awards: Copley Medal, Royal Medal, Wollaston Medal
Children: Anne Darwin, George Darwin, Francis Darwin
Education: University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge
Email: Finches@charlesdarwin.com
Website: charlesdarwin.com
Location: Galapagos Islands, Galapagos, Ecuador
Phone: 021-419-1882
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Twitter: @Father_Evolution