HBI Reading Reflections

HBI Reading Reflections #4

1. Evolution is the answer to many biological problems that impact our lives. This concept is the unifying principle of biology, and many aspects such as medicine, agriculture, and animal studies. It is important to understand the evolution and changes that occur in disease causing organisms and genes, drug resistant bacteria, and evolution of animals. Evolution is so interesting because it has an effect on almost every aspect of our lives. I agree with Dobzhansky’s quote, all life is the product of evolution. Biology makes sense because all life has a shared history. I side with Dobzhansky because the diversity and change in life does not make sense when viewed as a product of a God or supernatural being, but does

There are various definitions for adaptions by scientists. William Paley introduced the “watchmaker analogy”, where God created the complex world. The adaptions among organisms were because of God’s doing. Georges Cuvier shared a similar belief, where he expressed that God carefully created adaptions and a species didn’t change. Jean- Baptiste Lamarck expressed more logical views; he believed that adaption was caused by local circumstances. Adaptions were based on an organisms needs in the environment, but this happened because of “vital fluids”. Darwin’s adaption stated that it was primarily caused by natural selection, and allowed for organisms to adapt to their environment. Goldschmidt differentiated a change in micro mutations and macro mutations.

17. I find it interesting that evolutionary biology can lend its hand to so many areas. It has allowed for a lot of existing research, such as artificial selection. This allows for the manipulation of DNA. Gene sequencing is another interesting product of evolution, we can identify mutations, and manipulate DNA. All of these recent practices would lead to a much better understanding of evolution, where we came from, and where the human race is

The modern creationist movement was created during the 1920’s because of the Great Depression and wartime. During times of chaos, people will start leaning on religious beliefs and stray away from science and learning. Creationists reject evolution and believe that there is an entity in which created the universe. During the Great Depression, people were focused on trying to survive, and looked to hope and faith. This set back evolution because it created an opposing view. People had to decide which boat to be in. Creationism is an American movement, and an outright rejection of evolution. There are varying degrees of the creationist thinking. This has had such an impact on biology that creationism still exists, mostly in religious groups. This has fueled the controversy of teaching evolution in