Monday, July 29, 2013

What is evolution?

The word is often used, and its meaning can be pretty fuzzy.

First there is the general meaning which no one argues about:  just change over time.  In this sense, you evolve as you learn and experience life; your job evolves as you add or subtract responsibilities.  Change occurs in almost everything as time goes on.

Then there is micro-evolution, which no one argues about:  all life species change somewhat in relatively minor ways.  The size of a bird species' beak can change with changing circumstances, for instance, so that most of the birds in an environment have stronger/bigger beaks when the seeds available to eat become tougher.  An apple is developed by horticulturists that is sweeter and juicier than others.

photo:  mrjacksfarm.com

But it's the third type that does get argued about:  macro-evolution.  This theory says that changes in a kind of animal/plant happen over generations to the point that the later animal/plant is actually a different kind than its ancestors were, and all the kinds of life on earth came about this way.

There are lots of implications to this meaning of evolution.


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