StopLearnStopLearnThe world is believed to have been occupied by millions of different plants and animals. These plant
are animal are adapted to different kind of habitats. There are two theories that support the history of life.
There are ; divine creation and organic evolution
The theory of divine creation states with regard to ORIGIN of life (not species) that every living thing was designed and created by God and did not just occur by chance as evolution alleges.
I The theory of organic evolution believes that the first living organism is formed from certain molecules such as methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water vapour which combined under particular ultraviolet radiation from the sun and electrical lighting of the hot atmosphere to form the living thing about two billion years ago.
Organic evolution is therefore defined as a series of gradual changes which living organism had undergone in response to changes in environment since the beginning life.
Jean Baptist Lamarck, a French biologist was the first to put forward the theory of organic evolution in 1801. His idea of evolution was based on theories:
This theory states that the development of a new part or organ by an organism (plant or animal) result from the need of part or organ to the organism .
For instance, the early ancestors of snake had short bodies and legs. As the land was charging during its formation, many narrow places and dense vegetation, were formed, for snake to walk through narrow places and dense vegetation , they started stretching their bodies to become elongated so that they could easily crawl through the vegetation instead of walking would be gather preferred.
The theory states that organ become well developed and achieve, become functionless or disappeared with disuse.
For instance , each generation of snakes continue to stretch their bodies resulting in the strengthening of their bodies . The become useless and strengthless and finally disappeared since they would hinder crawling through narrow places and dense vegetation.
iii Theory of acquired characterizes of inheritance .(structures ) or variation acquired by organism during their life time are transmitted to the next generation by inheritance.
The modern giraffe believed to have evolved from a giraffe with short neck and short legs. When competition for low grasses among herbivorous animal become been , the short neck and short legged giraffe started to starch their neck legged giraffe started to stretch their neck and four legs so as to reach the leave of the trees.
The load and duck originally had no webs between their toes, but as they continue frequently visiting water food therefore the need to develop webs for swimming become a necessities.
Charlie’s Darwin , a British biologist in 1859 propounded a theory of organic devolution by natural selection leading to the origin of species. His theory of natural selection is as follows:
i-Overpopulation
All living organisms should be allowed to produce more offspring than can survive.
ii-Struggle for existence
Due to overpopulation of offspring, there is a constant competition for existence among offspring
iii-Offspring shows variation
No two individual are exactly the same .
Iv Adaptive characteristics
Some of the offspring’s are well adapted or fitted to survive the competition than others.
v-inheritance of adaptive characteristics.
The well adapted ones or the fittest will transmit such variation to their offspring’s.
Those with poor adaptation will die off (extinct).
vi-Development of new species.
An accumulation of favourable variation will in a long time head a divergence (spread) from the original stock resulting in the formation of new species.
1-Divergent Evolution is that for which related species or their parts become different because of the availability of niches in the environment. For instance, the month part of insects, birds and limbs of vertebrate.
Ii- Convergent Evolution – is were unrelated parts if organisms are modified to look similar which arises because of a common need in the environment. Example, the need to fly caused the birds and bat to develop wings .Birds are aves while bat are mammals.
Modern theories of organic Evolution.
Theory of organic evolution as stated by Darwin has been modified. The modern
The modern theories of evolution are now based on genetics ecology cytology, physiology , anatomy and embryology.
Evolution any process are continuous but slow the evidences have been derived from several sources including.
i- CYTOLOGY
Biochemical similarities- The studies on the structure and function of cells have revealed that biochemical and fine structure of the cell of different organisms are very alike with respect to .
– Nucleic acids
– ATP and cytochrome
– Organelle like mitochondria
– Serological test – is the study of the test tube reactions between antigens and antibodies. Possible evolutionary relationship can be detected by comparing the blood proteins.
ii- Serological test has shown that human blood is much closer to that of the great apes like chimpanzees.
iii- Physiology (molecular record) The evolutionary relationship has been established from molecular records, based on the fact that hereditary information is stored by all organisms in nucleic acids mainly DNA.
iv- Paleontology (fossil Record).
Plants and animals that lived in the past have been studied from fossil record, fossils are generally preserved in sedimentary rocks which were formed by the deposition of silt ,sand or calcium carbonate over thousands or even million of years.
v-. Comparative anatomy
Many groups of organisms especially vertebrates show similarities in anatomical features.
Vestigial organs are rudimentary or organs still found in animals and plant examples are
Mutation is defined as a sudden changes in genetic make up (DNA) either in gene or chromosomes resulting in a new characteristic or trait that can be inherited . Mutation occurs during meiosis when the sperm and egg are being formed. When mutation occurs it will lead to production of offspring with marked difference in appearance from other member of the population of the species called a mutant.
Mutation provides raw materials for organic evolution through natural selection of new species.
i Gene point mutation are sudden changes in the structure of DNA (gene code) at a particular point or area.
Ii Chromosome mutation are caused either by breaking off or fragmentation of chromosomes during mutation.
I X- rays
Ii Ultra – violet light
Iii Cosmic radiation
Iv Re-assortment of gene
(i)Mutation
(ii)Re-assortment of gene
(iii)Recombination of gene
Read our disclaimer.
AD: Take Free online baptism course: Preachi.com 