Monday, October 3, 2011
Darwin's Origin of the Species
I noticed that no one has begun the blog, so I will try to start you off with some questions. How did reading Darwin's actual text affect the ideas that you already brought into class about evolution? Did anything change? Did you discover a new insight? Did anything surprise you or was this what you expected to find? If it is what you expected, why is that so? I look forward to seeing your answers and to our convesation in class tomorrow.
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Darwin's text did not affect my previous thoughts about evolution that I had at the beginning of the semester because my thoughts on evolution was basically what Darwin outlined in his text. The text is what I originally expected because that what I was taught about evolution during my first Biology course here at CUA.
ReplyDeleteHowever, If I had to pick an idea about natural selection that really interest me, I would pick the idea of how Darwin explain that there are variations within each species. Such variation would allow each species to adapt better to their environment and thus survive in order to pass those traits onto their offsprings.
It also didn't affect my opinion about evolution and natural selection, I have taken core biology courses and the theory of evolution was mostly based on Darwin's theory. My favorite theory and the one that I find it very interesting is variation exists among individuals within species. for example if we look at our friends and relatives, or their pets, we can see variation. Breeders of animals and plants use these diverse characteristics to establish new varieties of dogs, cats, pigeons, cotton... etc.... variation is also known as mutation, is basically the raw material on which natural selection acts and is vital for natural selection. For example there is variation by domestication...
ReplyDeleteMy ideas of evolution have remained the same. I took the same class as Timmy where Darwinist approach to evolution was taught. Before even taking the class, the natural selection and evolutionist theories were ones i agreed with.
ReplyDeleteThe way natural selection leads to more prevalent traits that allow for better survival, and change of primary characteristics. I expected this because of the examples you see and the logic of it in real life. The better adapted to survive species reproduces and their traits that lead to their heightened survival become more predominant.
I think that what I knew about evolution was more or less the same as what I read in the text. I think that what Darwin experienced and observed in nature was shown in his theory. Nothing really changed, I would say that it clarified and explained more of what I already knew about Natural Selection. Darwin's point of natural selection having to aim for a greater good was something new to me though. I cannot say I remember that from what I had previously studied about Darwin. I think he is pointing to the belief that we all have an ultimate purpose here on earth and that related to the way nature works and evolves. It is a very interesting perspective considering the science behind his ideas.
ReplyDeleteI will agree with my classmates. Having taken a number of evolutionary biology classes these ideas were not new to me, nor any less fascinating this time around.
ReplyDeleteEvolution is a theory I wholeheartedly believe in, and natural selection in humans, plants, and all other living things simply makes sense. I think that while people may say natural selection and survival of the fittest are cruel ideas, I too would like to point out that Darwin sees it all as moving towards a greater good, for ourselves and the planet.
I have not taken any biology classes at CUA but I can say I do believe in the theory of evolution, scientifically speaking. I didn't know the details that this reading points out but I did know enough about the concept to believe it.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most interesting points that I was unaware of was the belief that populations remain the same size more or less despite certain ups and downs over generations of species. I would have thought that the population size would vary drastically and be highly dependent on progression in intellect and natural disasters.
I am going to join the train here, I agree with what all my classmates say about the reading. We were all taught the same theory so thoughts have not changed. Though it provides a lot of information on how the theory came about. Influences, religion, physical and mental struggles he went through. Charles Lyell for one, or his faith which can't be denied had a huge influence on how the theory came about. The obstacle he had to go through, from society all the way down to his family, his health. It was almost as if, the theory was eating away at him; the more he put out, the more was taken from him (hypothetically.
ReplyDeleteLike a broken record Im going to say that my opinion on the theory has not changed and that I believe in evolution. Some of the finer details are interesting to know. I did not know the limark was the first man with the idea.
ReplyDeleteI think many of his ideas almost parallel religion so I dont think that you necessarily have to be one or another. and I think reading the text in the context of this class made me start to look at it this way and I also thought that was interesting.