Evolution and Species - Learn How Different Species Evolved and Adapted and Become Masters of Their Environments.
WHAT IS EVOLUTION?
Evolution is the process of physical and biological changes through inherited characteristics in a population over an extended period of time through natural selection. Species who face evolution may go on to become an entire new species or become sub-species with homologous traits/ traits from previous ancestors.
Related Species and Sub-species
The difference between species and sub-species is that species within a population such as Lions and cheetahs cannot mate or reproduce due to genetic incompatible(different set of chromosome) whereas sub-species consists of groups of species which are physically and genetically different and are separated due to geographical features but can mate and reproduce fertile offspring due to how similar their genetic composition are.
Many factors are involved for an animal to evolve such as competition, changes in their environment, food scarcity or abundance of food, changes in climate, variation in the DNA (Mutation) and so on. However the most essential ingredient for evolution to occur is mutation.
There are some exceptions when different species are able to mate such as Lions, tigers and domestic cats all have 38 set of chromosomes even though they are different species (due to how different their chromosome meaning different genetic makeup therefore vastly different alleles) and can technically mate (with the most familiar example being the Liger – offspring of male lion and female tiger – and the Tigon – offspring to male tiger and a lioness) however usually these offspring are most likely sterile due to genetic incompatibility in sex chromosome. Male offspring of two different species are more likely to be sterile as they have two different chromosome ,X and Y, from both parents (who are different species) than female offspring who have the same type of chromosomes, X and X, from both parents (who are also different species) which tend to be more fertile.
TWO IMPORTANT INTERLINKEKED TRIGGER POINTS FOR EVOLUTION:
Mutation
In simple terms mutation is the alteration of an organism’s DNA through mistakes in cell division; can happen through exposure to radiation or through other DNA damaging agents or solutions. Mutations can be beneficial, dangerous or just ineffective with no use. Mutations occurs through complete chance and is random with no chance of predicting when it would happen. Viruses however mutate at a much quicker rate than other organisms that have decreased activity of molecules (proteins) proof-reading its genetic makeup. Mutation is important to evolution in every way possible as almost every genetic feature of an organism is the handiwork of a beneficial mutation.
Not every mutation in an organism is beneficial or adopted in its species as it would be redundant or harmful to the organism and its species survival.
Some mutation however will be advantageous to a species future and will be adopted in the newer generation of a species through natural selection as the individual with this beneficial mutation will be able to compete and thrive better than the individuals’ without this mutation. This will result in those without the mutation to die off and ones with the mutation will lie on reproduce passing down their genes.
For example, the mutation of pigment and regulatory genes helped tigers to get their distinctive stripes and orange colouration which helped tigers to blend into their environment and camouflage enabling them to stalk and ambush prey with great success. You may think that orange does not blend with green foliage however what you might not know is that most prey animals - such as deer, gazelles, buffaloes and other prey animal – have dichromatic vision meaning they cannot see shades of pinks, reds and to oranges. Due to this enormous advantage the frequency of tigers containing this mutation in their alleles will increase in every generation till every single tiger carried this mutated allele in their genes.
Environment
Environmental changes also factor into a specie’s evolution as animals would need to adapt to their environment and its landscape. Also, when species migrate to different geographical niches these species will not survive but needs to thrive and adapt to their new environment through evolving or they will struggle and perish.
To adapt they either need to modify or develop new physical traits and attributes and potentially lose some attributes if necessary (getting rid of redundant features of a species will conserve energy which would be wasted if the feature is still present).
However, a particular specie cannot just evolve specifically to its surroundings by just moving into one but the individuals in a specie will have to over time evolve as mutation, which are useful, occurring in these individuals will give the individual a slightly better chance of survival and will pass on their gene and if necessary the new or lacking feature will become more prominent till the particular specie becomes specially adapted to its surroundings.
Example of Species Evolving And Gaining Features
For example, the polar bear evolved from brown bears (that also includes grizzly bears). This means that at one-point, brown bears would have migrated north to the Arctic regions and Arctic landmasses and become so adapted to its environment they evolved into an entire new species (there are no sub-species of polar bears so therefore they are monotypic). Polar bears are adapted to the artic, harsh environment by having: two layers of thick fur which are clear - appears white to our eyes - with the inner most fur being hollow to insulate heat and the outermost layer of fur being waterproof – covered in oil – to remain dry when swimming with a bonus by preventing hypothermia. Polar bears also have wide padded feet to increase surface area and therefore increase weight distribution on ice which prevents them sinking in snow or falling into ice. Also, they have black skin to absorb as much infrared radiation as possible to also keep warm in conditions of temperatures at or below 0 degrees Celsius in summer and -40 degrees Celsius during winter.
Example of Species Evolving and Losing Features
Snakes are amongst one of the most diverse groups of animal in the animal kingdom in this world with approx. 3900 species consisting of 520 genera. Snakes evolved from lizards who favoured slithering and wrapping around prey (one of the many reasons why lizards lost their limbs) and therefore limbs shrunk over time till they completely disappeared (limbs, especially the hind limbs, are still present the skeletal structure of present-day snake) or some snakes still have small stubs resembling the remanence of its limbs. One of the many frequent convergent evolutions happening in nature is the European legless lizard which adapted to have similar attributes to snake and also losing limbs but with some clear differences has they have visible ear holes.
CONVERGENT EVOLUTION
Convergent evolution is when species from different genus and families develop similar traits to perform a similar function. This happens many times in nature due when to species occupy new ecological niches or different species competing for the same resource resulting in similar adaptations of the competing species due to selective pressure. When species which are not related to each other have similar traits they are called analogous traits as the competing species (which are not related to each other) would not would have shared common origin (referring to same family tree or genus).
Bats and birds both have wings (birds developed wings from the non-avian dinosaurs around 150 million years ago whereas bats developed wings around 50 million years ago) however the structure of the wings clearly states that birds and bats did not inherit wings from a common ancestor of wings.
So, therefore evolution is a very important process for life on Earth to survive and flourish. Without evolution you, I and the animals and plants around us wont be as diverse and spectacular are they are now.
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