Gourt > Science > Biology > Evolution (9)
In biology, evolution is the change in the heritable traits of a population over successive generations, as determined by the shifting allele frequencies of genes. Evolution is ultimately the source of the vast diversity of life: all contemporary organisms are related to each other through common descent, products of cumulative evolutionary changes over billions of years. Over time, new species evolve from existing species through speciation, and other species become extinct, resulting in the ever-changing biological world reflected in the fossil record.
The basic mechanisms that produce evolutionary change are natural selection (which includes ecological and sexual selection) and genetic drift acting on the genetic variation created by mutation, genetic recombination and gene flow. Natural selection is the process by which individual organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. If those traits are heritable, they pass them to their offspring, with the result that beneficial heritable traits become more common in the next generation. Given enough time, this passive process can result in varied adaptations to changing environmental conditions.
The modern understanding of evolution is based on the theory of natural selection, which was first set out in a joint 1858 paper by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace and popularized in Darwin's 1859 book The Origin of Species. In the 1930s, scientists combined Darwinian natural selection with the theory of Mendelian heredity to form the modern evolutionary synthesis, also known as "Neo-Darwinism". The modern synthesis describes evolution as a change in the frequency of alleles within a population from one generation to the next. This theory has become the central organizing principle of modern biology, relating directly to topics such as the origin of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, eusociality in insects, and the staggering biodiversity of the living world.
More on [ Evolution ]
Creationism :: Anomalies and Alternative Science
Criticism of Darwinism :: Anomalies and Alternative Science
Cosmology :: Astronomy
Exobiology :: Extraterrestrial Life
Theoretical Biology :: Biology
Evolution :: Science and Religion
Origins and Creation :: Perspectives
Origins and Creation :: Christianity
Scientists suggest certain genes boost chances for distributing variety of traits, drive evolution: Genes that don'... http://bit.ly/5Oisig
psychogroup (Psycological Group) Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:25:24 -0000
Scientists suggest certain genes boost chances for distributing variety of traits, drive evolution: Genes that don'... http://bit.ly/5Oisig
It was great to meet @DrDanSiegel this past week at the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conf. Can't wait to read Mindsight http://bit.ly/53w9Ka
divorcebusting (Michele Weiner-Davis) Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:25:05 -0000
It was great to meet @DrDanSiegel this past week at the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conf. Can't wait to read Mindsight http://bit.ly/53w9Ka
Book review: On the Origin of Stories by Brian Boyd - http://bit.ly/8pjSJs #evolution #sociobiology
CS999 (Courtney Slaughter) Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:24:41 -0000
Book review: On the Origin of Stories by Brian Boyd - http://bit.ly/8pjSJs #evolution #sociobiology
The Evolution Of Photoshop: 1988 â 2009 -> http://bit.ly/89fPHP ( nice to see it all in one place ) #photoshop (via @diego_s)
mosaicteam (mosaicteam) Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:24:09 -0000
The Evolution Of Photoshop: 1988 – 2009 -> http://bit.ly/89fPHP ( nice to see it all in one place ) #photoshop (via @diego_s)
RT @diego_s: The Evolution Of Photoshop: 1988 â 2009 -> http://bit.ly/89fPHP ( nice to see it all in one place ) #photoshop I started at 2.0
chuckkillorin (Chuck Killorin) Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:24:06 -0000
RT @diego_s: The Evolution Of Photoshop: 1988 – 2009 -> http://bit.ly/89fPHP ( nice to see it all in one place ) #photoshop I started at 2.0
Watching Life, I love anything primate related. It´s so fascinating to see where we came from. When you watch them you can´t deny evolution!
labourlaurie (Laurie Hooper) Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:24:04 -0000
Watching Life, I love anything primate related. It´s so fascinating to see where we came from. When you watch them you can´t deny evolution!
Science and Creationism - Considers the science that supports the theory of evolution - from the National Academy of Sciences.
The Talk.Origins Archive: Evolution FAQs - A very informative site about biology and evolutionary theory.
Meta Description: [ Articles and FAQs on evolution ]
A Post-Darwinian Probabilistic Model - A probabilistic model of biological evolution with a new interpretation of Darwinian natural selection and 3 examples: 1) 5 mass extinctions 2) hominization 3) the PO2PAL increase.
Meta Description: [ A probabilistic model of biological evolution with a new darwinian natural selection interpretation and three examples: 1) 5 mass extinctions (with Dinosaurs death causes at the KT limit) 2)Iodine influence on hominization 3) PO2 PAL increase ]
Alec's Evolution Pages with scientific evidence for evolution - Essays, articles, resources and links presenting scientific evidence for evolution and refuting creationist arguments. Demonstrates fallacies of Young Earth Creationism and Intelligent Design.
Meta Description: [ Scientific evidence for evolution and refutations of creationist arguments ]
Articles on Evolution - From the archives of the Boston Review.
Beliefs of U.S. Public About Evolution and Creation - Presents and discusses the results of polls (from Gallup, About.com, and other sources) of various economic, educational, and religious groups about evolution and creation.
Meta Description: [ beliefs of various religions and faith groups about evolution and creation ]
Essays on Evolution - Essays on dinosaur origin and extinction, bird origin and flight, and human origin.
Meta Description: [ Dinosaur origin and extinction, Warm-blooded dinosaur? Origin of flight in birds. Human origin ]
European Society for Evolutionary Biology - The Society aims promotes evolutionary research in a wide sense. It publishes the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, and organizes a conference every other year.
Meta Description: [ Home site of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology ]
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Evolution by Natural Selection - An introduction to how the appearance of design in the living world arose from a mindless process.
Evolution Happens! - Information about biological evolution in a QA format. Explains why creation science is not science. Includes photographs and many links.
Meta Description: [ Answers to common questions about biological evolution and evolutionary theory.
Includes, links, a gallery and a free screen saver. ]
Evolution of Evolvability - This paper shows how evolution tunes the content and frequency of genetic variation to enhance its evolvability, organising genetic systems into hierarchies. Genetic evolution is neither random nor blind.
Meta Description: [ Evolution tunes the content and frequency of genetic variation to enhance its evolvability. ]
Evolution Update - A tool for academic research in evolutionary biology and its associated controversies.
Meta Description: [ Evolution Update-- News, Feature Articles, and Bestselling Books in Evolutionary Biology; especially for students and teachers of biology ]
Evolution's Arrow - Web version of a book written by John Stewart about the direction of evolution and the future of humanity.
Evolution: Darwin - Supporting material for the Evolution TV series. Includes informative activities.
Meta Description: [ Delve into Darwin's secret inner world. ]
Hans-Cees Speel's Homepage - The Evolution and Philosophy section discusses evolution in biology, philosophy, artificial intelligence, and memetics.
Introduction to Phylogeny - University of California Museum of Paleontology virtual exhibit explores the relationship of phylogeny and evolution.
Nearctica - Evolution - Extensive annotated collection of links on the process of evolution.
Radiation of the First Animals - Illustrated lecture transcript by Dr. Jere Lipps. Discussion of the evolutionary record of the pre-Cambrian period and the Cambrian explosion, including the traces and impacts of non-skeletal life forms.
Replicators: Evolutionary Powerhouses - Extensive and interactive educational resource providing information on biological and cultural evolution, language development, and philosophy.
Meta Description: [ ThinkQuest is an international competition where student teams engage in collaborative, project-based learning to create educational websites. The winning entries form the ThinkQuest online library. ]
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Scientific American: 15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense - Review and critique of popular arguments against the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Meta Description: [ Science and Technology at Scientific American.com: 15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense -- Science and Technology from Scientific American: daily science news and technology news, science trivia, science experts, science newsletters, science shop, science books and more ]
Songbird Shows How Evolution Works - BBC News article about study on Himalayan songbirds that suggests how one species can evolve into two.
Meta Description: [ Himalayan songbirds show how one species can evolve into two. ]
The Evolution Education Wiki - An Evolution Encyclopedia and FAQ compiled by users of the site.
The Evolution Evidence Page - A collection of articles about evolution, most of which deal primarily with human evolution, from a variety of sources. They include discussion of the anatomical, fossil and genetic evidence.
Meta Description: [ This page provides some of the evidence for evolution and the common ancestry of all life on earth. ]
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The Evolution Page - Provides background to the evolution debate, links and an outline of a new model for large scale changes.
The Evolutionary Tales - Recasting of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales to present evolutionary theory and the pseudoscientific nature of creation science by Ronald L. Ecker. Full text available online.
Meta Description: [ Network Solutions - Original domain name registration and reservation services with variety of internet-related business offerings. Quick, dependable and reliable. ]
The Panda's Thumb - Group weblog on evolutionary theory, the claims of the anti-evolution movement, and the defence of the integrity of both science and science education.
The Story of Human Evolution - An step-by-step explanation of natural evolution from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization.
Meta Description: [ An easy-to-read step-by-step explanation of natural evolution from the big bang to the rise of civilization ]
Triumph of Life - Companion to PBS series on evolution. Features essays, video clips, and special interactive features that explore the story of life on Earth.
Meta Description: [ Triumph of Life ]
Vertebrate Flight Exhibit - Explores the physics of vertebrate flight, with particular emphasis on its origins and evolution.
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