Natural Selection Persuasive Essay Example
Natural Selection Persuasive Essay Example

Natural Selection Persuasive Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (567 words)
  • Published: October 17, 2018
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Question1. Answers

Root-Bernstein presents evidence to support biological evolution by examining homologies, which are body parts that come from the same embryos but serve different purposes (e.g., a human's hand, a bat's wing, or a whale's flipper). Analogies, on the other hand, involve body parts with different developmental origins but similar functions (like insect and bird wings). To further illustrate his point, Root-Bernstein provides an example of transitional forms as evidence. This involves showing a series of modifications starting from the four-toed Huracotherium and ending with the modern horse having only one toe.

The student is given an explanation by him about divergent evolution. He also argues that living things undergo changes over time, using the example of reptile ribs widening and fusing to form a tortoise's back over a long period. To provide evidence, he suggests that if a ske

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leton is rotated, one can see how the shell evolved. For convergent evolution, he points out that mutations can lead to similar outcomes, as seen in different ant eaters like silky ant eaters, pangolins, and spiny ant eaters. This convergent evolution serves as evidence of natural selection, as all these animals eat ants regardless of their diverse origins.

Root-Bernstein utilizes vestigial traits as evidence, providing examples of animals' presently dysfunctional leftover parts.

Question2. Answer

The most challenging aspect is convincing students that the number of ribs can support both evolution and religion. Root-Bernstein references both the Bible and evolutionary theories.

According to Root-Bernstein, the bible does not specify the number of ribs Adam had when he was created. He also explains to his student that if God took one rib from Adam, it would not mean that men would have on

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less rib. This would potentially impact not just boys, but all children. This conclusion was drawn from teachings in Sunday school. The student then utilizes this reasoning in both their academic and religious perspectives.

The student, in examining various skeletons, finds that the number of ribs is consistent. This observation is corroborated by other students who also count the ribs and accurately determine the rib count in humans. Moreover, the student uses the disparity in rib pairs between himself and his mother as evidence for evolution, noting that he has twelve pairs while his mother has thirteen. Additionally, a man unearthed from the Alps after 5300 years had only 11 pairs of ribs.

This illustrates the presence of evolution by showcasing the diversity in rib numbers, consequently providing support for the notion of evolution.

Question3. Answer

The theory of evolution put forth by Lamarck, suggesting that organisms inherit acquired characteristics from their parents and transmit them to their descendants, has been disproven.

The observation of Wallace and Darwin challenges the concept that organisms have control over their traits. They discovered that certain variations in organisms allow them to adapt and thrive in specific environments. These advantageous traits are then inherited by offspring, who may develop slightly different characteristics. This ongoing process of variation results in the emergence of new species with new traits over time. This differs from Lamarck's viewpoint, which emphasizes that traits are inherited rather than chosen by the organisms themselves.

Conclusion

To conclude, although understanding the theory of evolution may be challenging, it complements the theory of creation.

All living creatures universally undergo changes through evolution in order to adapt and thrive in their surroundings.

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