Evolution History
Evolution is the theory that stipulates how changes occur among living organisms through the method that proves that all life is connected. From the time evolution was proposed, it has since been accepted, not as a theory, but as a fact. However, various theories are used to prove this fact and they have all come at different times in history. It has also become clear that there is still a possibility that future scientific discoveries will add changes to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution (Darwin, 1859). Evolution itself can be traced back to several billion years of biological diversity. Nevertheless, “details of evolutionary change, such as mutation and natural selection, are still being studied and explained” (Olendzenski & Gogarten, 2009). It is important to note that most of the confusion and skepticism that has arisen in the past as a result of the evolution theory comes from a lack of understanding that the concept is constantly changing. Therefore, there is a need for the academic community to recognize that the evolution theory has evolved over the years. This essay tracks the history of evolution by focusing on the concept in regards to some of the discoveries that have been made in the field of genetics.
Sequential discoveries in the science of genetics are a good example of how evolution has ‘evolved’. Through genetics, various aspects of evolution are evident. For example, discoveries in genetics are responsible for proving several facts that are contained within the evolution theory. For instance, the concept of descendency is based on the facts of evolution. The concept of descendants was further proven by the sequential concept of genetic fingerprinting. By adding on to the concept of descendency, genetic fingerprinting can be used to indicate if two random people are related, and the extent of their genetic connection. These two discoveries were made several decades after Darwin made the groundbreaking claim that all life on earth is related. For example through genetic fingerprinting, “it is possible to determine that all Earth species are related, determine how closely they are related, and even approximate when two species diverged from each other” (Doudna & Charpentier, 2014, p. 128). A short while ago, it would have been preposterous to claim that human beings and mice are related, but recent scientific discoveries have indicated that these two organisms came from a common ancestor approximately thirty million years ago.
Scientific discoveries that are connected to evolution are responsible for the branching out of the scientific studies in this field. The traditional studies on evolution have forthwith been subdivided into new areas of study such as kin selection theories, gene-centered theories, and evolvability theories. Scientists are now in agreement that “the evolution process is entirely driven by differences in expressed phenotypic design between organisms that are then selected or rejected by natural selection” (Carroll, Grenier, & Weatherbee, 2013). Nevertheless, research into this field has not been exhausted and scientists continue to investigate how the inherited behaviors in an organism relate to the traditional concept of evolution.
Scientific discoveries
From the time evolution gave rise to the concept of the modern synthesis, there have been various discoveries that have followed. Some of these proceeding scientific discoveries include the double helix DNA structure, mobile DNA, symbiosis, horizontal gene transfer, transposons, chromosome rearrangements, and gene duplication among others. It is also important to note that evolution as a branch of science has been responsible for the sequencing of the human genome. Consequently, most of these discoveries have had a lasting impact on the evolution and have at times changed the course of natural science. An example of a historical event that has changed the scientific understanding of the natural world is the discovery of genetics, particularly the double helix DNA structure. In an article that was published in 1953, two scientists were looking to recognize the advances of the evolutionary concept but they ended up making a great discovery in the process. Observers reckon the discovery of the DNA to be “a turning point: where our understanding of life was changed forever and the modern era of biology began” (Doolittle, 2010).
The discovery of the double helix DNA structure was preceded by a lack of adequate scientific knowledge on concepts such as inheritance of traits and genes. The two biologists who are responsible for the discovery of the modern DNA concept are Francis Crick and James Watson. The two wrote about their hypothesis in the “Nature” journal whereby they pointed out that the double helix was some sort of a coping mechanism for genes and other genetic traits. Sixty years later the concept of DNA is at the center of various biological processes that involve genetics. Through DNA, scientists are now able to understand how molecules can be duplicated. Consequently, the discovery of DNA is at the center of the evolution theory because it points out how life started and how it continues to evolve from its original form.
The impact that the discovery of the nature of DNA has had on scientific understanding of the world is immense. First, we can now rely on the discovery of DNA to store and retrieve biological data. The DNA code makes it possible for scientists to understand how the conservative nature of the natural world. For instance, the DNA code can reveal data that was first stored in living organisms billions of years ago. After the discovery of DNA, we are also able to understand that the building blocks of life are few but they are repeated several times. The uniform nature of DNA’s building blocks was at the center of the biotechnological revolution that is currently underway. For example, in the 1970 and 1980s, scientists found ways of manipulating DNA between species. Therefore, human beings understand that the process of evolution can now be manipulated although it cannot be changed. DNA is currently being utilized as an editing tool for nature especially where organisms cannot be sexed through natural means. Furthermore, the genetic modification that is employed in both breeding and farming is only possible through the application of DNA (Carroll, Grenier, & Weatherbee, 2013). These DNA concepts are also being employed in the research of certain genetic diseases.
One example of how DNA is being utilized is through the Human Genome Project, whose completion will bring immense progress in the field of human health. The Human Genome Project is of global proportions whereby scientists from all over the world are working towards a common goal. When it is complete, the Genome Project will offer insight into how inheritable diseases are carried and communicated. Another manner in which the DNA discovery has changed the world’s understanding of science is through the advent of Genetically Modified (GMO) seeds. Although GMOs are highly controversial, they have made it possible for humans to manipulate the structure of organisms for them to fit/survive in ‘unnatural environments’ (Darwin, 1859).
References
Carroll, S. B., Grenier, J. K., & Weatherbee, S. D. (2013). From DNA to diversity: molecular genetics and the evolution of animal design. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Darwin, C. (1859). The origin of species. New York: Modern Library.
Doolittle, W. F. (2010). Uprooting the tree of life. Scientific American, 282(2), 90-92.
Doudna, J. A., & Charpentier, E. (2014). The new frontier of genome engineering with CRISPR-Cas9. Science, 346(6213), 125-196.
Olendzenski, L., & Gogarten, J. P. (2009). Evolution of genes and organisms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1178(1), 137-145.