The Theory of Evolution
At The First Glance.
These two statements appear to correspond perfectly ,
a) A person ( or animal+ plants ) use genes to create another person or ( animal or plant) .
b) Genes use a person ( or animal,or plants) to create more genes.
But although the statements are similar in form, there is an important substantive difference between them When genes replicate, their children are identical to the original Genes. But Although human beings produces, they, never replicate,Human children are not copies of their parents. Genes make copies of themselves, human beings do not nor do members of any other sexually reproducing species.
The biologist Richard Dawkins wrote a celebrated book. The Selfish Gene. IN which he Emphasized the "gene's-eye-view" of reproduction. Of course, a gene is just a molecule with no Consciousnesnces or purpose at all.. selfish or otherwise_ However, the result of natural selection is much the same if the genes actually way selfish, and you will rarely reach a wrong conclusion viewing them as such. ( of course a conclusion reached in this fashion should be checked against the true test: differential replication rates )
It is interesting to consider what the function of a human being is from the stand-point of his genes. 'Genes are just molecules. and they can easily be destroyed by heat, by radiation, or by dangerous chemical in the outside world. To protect themselves., the Genes construct a container around themselves to o keep out harmful chemicals and. radiation, a "house- with a thermostat that keeps the temperature nearly constant. If the "house- (i.e..if the human being or animal produced by the genes) is well designed. Them the genes can survive and replicate: if the house has serious defects, the genes inside it will die.' (note the contrast_ for a human being._ the Gene's inside its sperm or egg cells arc merely. a means reproduction-, .they do nothing to help the individual survive.)
Section 5 :
present status of the theory of Evolution
The Theory of evolution are introduce by Charles Darwin in 1859 in his great work. The Origin of Species. ln the century and a half since then. there have been several importance modifications of his original theory. For example. Darwin did not discuss genetic drift, rarely mentioned mutations, and knew nothing about genes. Furthermore, it seems likely that there will be additional refinements to Darwin's theory.in the future. Still. virtually all modern scientist agree that Darwin's central insight Evolution by means of natural! selection — was correct
Never the less. lots of people have never really accepted the theory of Evolution_ The most obvious of these are religious fundamentalist. many of whom openly .dispute the theory.
A more important group. however, consists of the numerous persons who say (and think) that they accept the theory of evolution, but wh.o in fact shrink from accepting the implications of that theory_
Among those unwelcome implication are
1 ) Human being are animals: very unusual animals_ to be sure, but nevertheless animais_origin, we are not fallen angels.
But apes arisen