Science and evolution

Genetics and Molecular Biology
Claudia A M Russo, Thiago André

Abstract

Evolution is both a fact and a theory. Evolution is widely observable in laboratory and natural populations as they change over time. The fact that we need annual flu vaccines is one example of observable evolution. At the same time, evolutionary theory explains more than observations, as the succession on the fossil record. Hence, evolution is also the scientific theory that embodies biology, including all organisms and their characteristics. In this paper, we emphasize why evolution is the most important theory in biology. Evolution explains every biological detail, similar to how history explains many aspects of a current political situation. Only evolution explains the patterns observed in the fossil record. Examples include the succession in the fossil record; we cannot find the easily fossilized mammals before 300 million years ago; after the extinction of the dinosaurs, the fossil record indicates that mammals and birds radiated throughout the planet. Additionally, the fact that we are able to construct fairly consistent phylogenetic trees using distinct genetic markers in the genome is only explained by evolutionary theory. Finally, we show that the processes that drive evolution, both on short and long time scales, are...Continue Reading

References

Aug 12, 2006·Science·Jon D MillerShinji Okamoto
Sep 3, 2011·PLoS Biology·Camilo MoraBoris Worm
Jan 4, 2013·Journal of Vision·Tandra Ghose, Zili Liu
May 26, 2015·Vaccine·Elaine R MillerTom T Shimabukuro
Jan 29, 2016·Parasitology·P Kingsley, E M Taylor
Jun 1, 2011·Evolution·Guillermo Paz-Y-Miño C, Avelina Espinosa
Jun 11, 2016·Science·Michael Baltzley
Nov 16, 2016·Science·Glenn Branch
Aug 11, 2017·Waste Management & Research : the Journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA·David E Ross
Sep 2, 2017·Science·Heslley Machado Silva
Nov 22, 2017·Nature·Sebastian SchaferStuart A Cook

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