Evolution
From SecularPortal
Evolution is the process of change from one generation to the next within a population of organisms.
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[edit] Overview
The process of evolution by natural selection occurs when mutations happen in the gene pool and a organism develops characteristics differing from that of similar organisms.
If this characteristic is beneficial then the organism will be better adapted at surviving than its fellow organisms and so will flurish and multiply while the inferior versions die out.
[edit] History
Charles Darwin is widely credited as the father of evolutionary theory setting down the basic principles of it in his book On the Origin of Species published in 1859.
[edit] Misconceptions
[edit] Randomness
People often confuse the random mutations which occur in evolution with the process of evolution itself being random. The evolutionary process itself is in fact not random but the very opposite of random.
[edit] Just a theory
Evolution is often described as a theory. Which it is. Much like gravity and mathematics.
[edit] Macroevolution & microevolution
It is often argued that microevolution (evolution within a species) occurs but macroevolution (one species turning into another) does not. This argument is in fact down right stupid as there is actually no such thing as microevolution and macroevolution. Macroevolution is simply the cumulative effects of microevolution.
