Literary Research Project
Evolution
Samantha Authers
May – July 2017
Abstract:
Evolution is considered to be a process that is mainly initiated by natural selection which causes changes in species characteristics over time. I have conducted a literary research project to illustrate the following:
• Evolution branches out and occurs with a predetermined goal
• There are no consistent trends in evolution
• New species can arise through several different mechanisms
I have also included an example of evolution in present times.
This report will provide a better understanding of what evolution is about because different organisms have used to cover each section of this report.
Evolution is continuous and so as changes in the environment occur, organisms will adapt in such a way as to adapt to these changes. Part One:
Organism: Horses
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Horse evolution has occurred for over 55 million years. When a comparison is made between different species of hoses from different generations, it is evident that there is no straight line of evolution. Horse evolution had no imminent direction. However some people might argue this because an impression of a straight line evolution is made because there is only one genus of the horse species that is still alive. The Equus species is the last surviving branch of the horse species. The Equus species is also referred to as the modern horse species.
As time has passed from the earlier days, the horse species changed to form new species. This ‘new’ species is determined by factors such as the environment in which the horses live and of course natural selection. The new horse species developed from the common ancestor, namely Hyracotherium. There was no set path to follow for the Hyracotherium species to develop and change into the Equus species. No goal was set for this change; instead the change was initiated by the