Darwin and Theory of Evolution

   The Theory of Evolution is not a static field of study, as there is no field in science. Its well-grounded theoretical foundation was built in 1859 when Darwin published the full name “The Origin of Species by Natural Selection or the Conservation of Races Supported in the Struggle for Life”, known simply as “The Origin of Species”. But that publication did not end, even that book was just the first spark of a huge explosion.

   It is of great importance in terms of being the first spark; However, the real important scientific results created by this field and the breakthroughs in science are not so important. Because this publication is 155 years behind, and we’ve discovered a lot since then.

   We have corrected and expanded Darwin’s mistakes on several points (especially his errors and ignorance in subjects such as numerical expansion of populations and genetics). Other than that, the door that Darwin opened has always remained and will likely remain fundamental to evolutionary biology.

   Since then, many new explanations have been made about the theory of evolution, it has been mathematically proved to be a valid theory, has been confirmed by computer models, we have observed every species that we have touched, all fossils have confirmed the evolutionary process, studies in the fields of comparative anatomy, morphology, genetics as a whole are evolutionary. It validated the processes exactly as the theory predicted, and so on.

   On this path brand new hypotheses were put forward, some strongly affirmed (or still not falsified), becoming a powerful part of the theory, some refuted and forgotten.   

   Considering all these dizzying developments, findings, evidence and research, Darwin’s framework for evolution remains extremely simple and straightforward. These findings are still very valuable in understanding and explaining the essence of evolution; But it is impossible for us to see evolutionary biology as just Darwin and the Theory of Evolution as he put it forward.

5 Basic Principles of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

   If the aim is a simple statement, as summarized by the great evolutionary biologist Ernst Mayr in 1982, Darwin’s theory of evolution first proposed by Darwin can be examined through 5 basic points:

• Evolution, taken alone, is the change in the lineage of an organism over time.

   This idea does not belong to Darwin and goes back to philosophers who lived before Christ. However, Darwin provided an irresistible amount of evidence for this view, which he personally collected, evaluated and explained from nature. So much so that thousands of biologists, who could not even think about such a thing until then, and who thought that all species were created or came into being fixedly, after examining the evidence, accepted that the theory of evolution clearly explained the change in nature in just a few years, and changed their minds. Since the 1880s, the scientific community has been in complete consensus on the Theory of Evolution.

• Darwin’s idea of ​​a common ancestor is radically different from Lamarck’s theory of evolution.

   Darwin was the first to argue that species evolved by differentiating from common ancestors and that all species must meet in common ancestors in the depths of history. He brought the view that all life can be regarded as a single and giant Tree of Evolution. Thus, contrary to what Lamarck and others thought, it was understood that lineages closely linked to each other did not evolve independently of each other.

   The common ancestors of close relatives lived more recently in history, while distant relatives lived in earlier times. For example, your common ancestor with your sibling is probably still alive (your mother and father), your common ancestor with your first cousin lives or may have lived a few years ago (your large family), the common ancestor of all humans with Neanderthals lived some 500,000 years ago, the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees He lived 6 million years ago; However, the common ancestor of man and daisies lived 2.5 billion years ago.

• Gradual evolution is one of the cornerstones of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.

   An evolutionary school of biology, known today as “adaptationism,” still defends Darwin’s view, and this is still the strongest explanation. According to this view, every feature of all living things that have existed and will have evolved through simple and small steps. According to this view, there are no leaps in evolution, and a feature cannot suddenly come into being.  

   Alternative theories to this end suggest that the actual character formation in evolution evolved through periods of sudden leaps and rapid evolution (such as the Cambrian Explosion). Although this debate continues, gradual evolution is thought to be the process by which at least most characteristics of each species. Spiky evolution may be useful in the formation of more specific traits.

• The variation in character distribution within the population forms the basis of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.

   This discovery led to the discovery of genetics just a few decades after his death, and after this discovery 100% confirmed the Theory of Evolution, the branch of science called “population genetics” was born. Darwin is at the beginning of countless revolutions in many branches of science, and population genetics is one of them. In addition, this is what makes Darwin’s theory special and different. According to this discovery, observing the variation in the prevalence of specific characters (height, neck thickness, etc.) within a species’ population over the generations means inevitably we are observing evolution.

   None of the changes experienced in an individual’s lifetime are evolution, but development. However, all the changes a population goes through over the generations must be evolutionary changes. So if gene or character frequencies (frequency of occurrence and distribution) are changing, there is evolution.

• The main mechanism of evolution is Natural Selection.

   Puppies born in each generation have traits slightly different from their parents. Some of these traits give some individuals a disadvantage, while some other traits give some other individuals an advantage in terms of survival. Those who are advantageous survive longer, breed more easily, and pass on genes that make them advantageous to future generations more. Thus, when we look at the basis of population and generation, advantageous features increase in number, disadvantageous features gradually decrease. This selection / elimination mechanism is called Natural Selection. All the features that evolve as a result of such selection are called adaptations. Natural Selection and all these ideas developed in connection with it make Darwin’s theory powerful.

Author: Mr. Article

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