Evolution, The Greatest Show on Earth

What is Evolution? by yourgenome.org

When life started, we had only single celled, simple, life forms like bacteria and algae. How did we get to a point where life is so diverse, different and complex? Evolution. Evolution is a change in heritable traits that can be seen across many generations. It is change that happens over time. Lots, of time. You have most likely changed and are different than your great grandparents. Over a long period of time, you changed. This change might be seen in your mother, and possibly, in your kids. This is evolution. You have a change in your heritable traits that can be seen across many generations. But why did change happen? What caused the evolution? There are five main driving forces of evolution. Natural selection, mutations, genetic drift, genetic flow and mating choice. Mating choice is when you mate with a person because they have the same trait as you or a trait that you like. This means that you are choosing to pass on a certain trait. If this happens for long enough, one trait starts dying off, and the other thrives. Evolution.

Genetic flow is when people, carrying a certain trait, enter a different population. It then introduces that gene into that population's gene pool, therefore causing people to get that trait. A black fly decides that it is going to go and live in a blue fly population. The black fly mates with a blue fly, and the black fly trait enters the gene pool. Overtime, more of the blue flies, start to turn black because of the black fly trait. Evolution.

Genetic drift is the gradual loss or increase in genes in a population. Therefore causing certain traits to become more or less common, making changes in the heritable traits that the population has. A green eyed person mates with a blue eyed person. The offspring has green eyes. The blue eyed trait starts to die out in the population until it is gone and people continue on with their lives and live without it, changing the way that the population looks. Evolution.

Mutations are random changes in the DNA of a person. These can be good, bad or neutral. These new changes in the DNA can be passed on through the population, eventually changing it. The cat population has pointy, straight, ears. One cat is born with floppy ears, it's offspring now has floppy ears. This new trait is added to the gene pool and becomes more common in the population, changing the way that the cats looked. Evolution.

Last, but not least, natural selection. Natural selection is where there are at least two traits in the gene pool and one helps the organism survive better than the other. The part of the species with the bad trait dies off before they can reproduce, the part of the species with the better trait reproduces more. Therefore, the trait that is more successful will become more common and be passed on more, making it dominate and change the population. An island is home to a species of birds. They come in two colors, green and blue. The blue birds get eaten more often because they stand out more. The green birds mate and their offspring are green. The blue bird trait eventually dies out because the environment can't support their reproduction, and they die too soon to reproduce often. The green bird trait lives on, making the population be all green. Evolution.

S&EP
SP1: Asking Questions, Defining Problems

What is Evolution? How does it happen? And why does it matter? These questions are shown through millions of years of history, and all throughout today. Evolution is a way that a population changes due to mating choice, genetic drift, genetic flow, mutations and natural selection. Without evolution, we and many other species, like dogs, whales and more, wouldn't be here. This planet has changed throughout time, and with it, we came. We may be a small bit of it, but we are in Earth's history because of evolution. By studying these questions, I have formulated my own opinions and definitions, about evolution and the beginning of life.

XCC
XCC: Cause and Effect

Evolutions is one of the biggest examples of cause and effect in life. It show the basics of cause and effect. Mating selection, is the cause of a trait to become more or less common, driving evolution and effecting the way the population is. Genetic flow causes different traits to be added to the gene pool, driving evolution and effecting the population by adding diversity. Genetic drift causes certain traits to increase or decrease in size or number. Effecting the populations size, diversity and traits. Natural selection can cause whole traits and parts of populations to disappear, lost to evolution. Effecting whole parts and systems within a population. Evolution causes life to be the way that it is now and causes it to change going forward, making it better and diverse. Effecting the way that life is lived and populations grow. All we can say is that evolution, has taken us a very, long, way.