What Darwin Never Knew

(https://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/31478/title/Why-People-Lost-Their-Fur/)

How did the discovery of DNA prove that Darwin’s theory of evolution was correct and how does it change the way we view evolution today and into the future?

The theory of evolution is the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in physical or behavioral traits. Changes that allow an organism to better adapt to its environment will help it survive and have more offspring. The discovery of DNA supported Darwin’s theory because it showed how DNA structures are different for every species and how this feature is caused by mutations. The theory of evolution revolves around mutation of species to survive. Animals mutate to become fit and adapt to the changing environment, while the inadequate species disappear. There are many animals that exhibited mutations to fit in to their environment.

Tortoises mutated to become suitable for their environment. Scientists were able to determine which island tortoises came from just by looking at their shells. Some would have dome-shaped shells while some would have shells arcing over their heads like a saddle. It’s not their shells that’s just different, their skin colour varies from each tortoise from different habitats because they mutate to be able to become adequate to their environment.

Dogs also exhibit how they mutate to adapt to their surroundings. Dog breeders mix different dogs with distinct traits to produce a new type of dog. For example, the whippet dog was able to become a fit species due to its exceptional speed and agility. The whippet dog was created by cross-breeding a Greyhound with a Terrier, and through this mix, the whippet dog inherited traits from both of its parents.

The pocket mice also demonstrated how mutations could help their species to survive. These rodents expose themselves to the environment to find their food. To keep predators off of their backs, the pocket mouse uses its fur to blend in to the environment. If the soil is light, the mouse’s fur changes so that it blends in with the soil. If the soil is dark, a mutation occurs on the pocket mouse and its fur is altered to a darker colour to blend in the environment.

All living things have evolved at a dramatic rate since the beginning of time and that it hasn’t slowed down even at the present, meaning that many more species would be created through mutation in the future. It’s not just plants and animals that evolve, us humans too because we are a part of the evolutionary cycle of life. As time progresses, the environment will change and so will all living things. The unfit will disappear while the fit survives and reproduces.