Extra Post: Regarding 8-31-21 Discussion

·       What do you think about the phrase "evolution is just a theory"? What are theories in contrast to hypotheses?

• To be fair, yes, evolution is a theory because while there are evidences supporting it, there are missing pieces and “assumptions” (though logical) that have to be made in order for one to process the Theory of Evolution. A hypothesis is something to be tested, the question you’re asking before you can conduct a method of experimentation. If I hypothesize that A + B = C because of D and I can see this and compile data supporting my hypothesis, that is where we get into the territory of a “theory”. I have created hypotheses to support my theory, and there is data to conclude that my assumptions are accurate. There are many hypotheses is a theory, but it will still be a theory until everything can , without a doubt, be proven, merely for the sake of the fluidity of science.

·       What is the difference between "evolution" and "natural selection"?

• Natural selection is the selection within a generation to determine which individuals will reproduce and which will die off. Certain desirable traits are selected for that could increase the fitness of future generations. If, after a while, there is some sort of branch of the “original” population, whether the branch causes it to die off or not, and a “new” population is created then we can say that evolution has occurred. The “new” population will be after multiple generations and no longer breed with the “old” population, though there will be evidence that they were once one and the same. In short, natural selection could lead to evolution, but not all evolution is a result of natural selection (i.e. bottlenecking, genetic drift, etc.)

·       What do you think of the term "survival of the fittest"? Is it an accurate description of evolution? If not, why?

• Generally, yes. Those that reproduce, “the fittest” are those who will survive. However, it does not mean that those who have not evolved have simply died off. In the case of the Ensatina salamanders evolution was obviously occurring as many species were moving down the physical barrier, getting to the end and no longer able to reproduce with those on the other side. It was not a case of, “A₂ survived so A₁ died off completely.” The fittest will always survive, that’s simply nature, but it does not always lead to evolution and it does not have the implications some might think.

·       How much time does it take for evolution to happen?

• Evolution needs to happen over generations. How many generations and how long is a “generation” is entirely up to the organism and the conditions it’s put in. A bottleneck might cause a mass extinction for one species while another might evolve to their new environment. Ten generations for fruit flies simply is not the same amount of time as ten generations for an African Elephant. Those things are relative so long as multiple generations are in play in order for genetic material to be passed down.