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Evolution: Rudolf Virchow

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6 views

Evolution: Rudolf Virchow

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Uploaded by

AJ Villanueva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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There is not only unity of basic living substance and functioning but also
unity of origin of all living things. According to a theory proposed in 1855 by
German pathologist Rudolf Virchow, “all living cells arise from pre-existing
living cells.” That theory appears to be true for all living things at the
present time under existing environmental conditions. If, however, life
originated on Earth more than once in the past, the fact that all organisms
have a sameness of basic structure, composition, and function would seem
to indicate that only one original type succeeded.

A common origin of life would explain why in humans or bacteria—and in all


forms of life in between—the same chemical substance, deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA), in the form of genesaccounts for the ability of all living matter
to replicate itself exactly and to transmit genetic information from parent to
offspring. Furthermore, the mechanisms for that transmittal follow a
pattern that is the same in all organisms.

Whenever a change in a gene (a mutation) occurs, there is a change of some


kind in the organism that contains the gene. It is this universal phenomenon
that gives rise to the differences (variations) in populations of organisms
from which nature selects for survival those that are best able to cope with
changing conditions in the environment.

Evolution

types of natural selectionThree types of natural selection, showing the effects of each
on the distribution of phenotypes within a population. The downward arrows point to
those phenotypes against which selection acts. Stabilizing selection (left column) acts
against phenotypes at both extremes of the distribution, favouring the multiplication of
intermediate phenotypes. Directional selection (centre column) acts against only one
extreme of phenotypes, causing a shift in distribution toward the other extreme.
Diversifying selection (right column) acts against intermediate phenotypes, creating a
split in distribution toward each extreme.(more)
In his theory of natural selection, which is discussed in greater detail
later, Charles Darwin suggested that “survival of the fittest” was the basis
for organic evolution (the change of living things with time). Evolution itself
is a biological phenomenon common to all living things, even though it has
led to their differences. Evidence to support the theory of evolution has
come primarily from the fossil record, from comparative studies of structure
and function, from studies of embryological development, and from studies
of DNA and RNA(ribonucleic acid).
Diversity
Despite the basic biological, chemical, and physical similarities found in all
living things, a diversity of life exists not only among and
between species but also within every natural population. The phenomenon
of diversity has had a long history of study because so many of the
variations that exist in nature are visible to the eye. The fact that organisms
changed during prehistoric times and that new variations are constantly
evolving can be verified by paleontological records as well as by breeding
experiments in the laboratory. Long after Darwin assumed that variations
existed, biologists discovered that they are caused by a change in the
genetic material (DNA). That change can be a slight alteration in the
sequence of the constituents of DNA (nucleotides), a larger change such as
a structural alteration of a chromosome, or a complete change in the
number of chromosomes. In any case, a change in the genetic material in
the reproductive cells manifests itself as some kind of structural or chemical
change in the offspring. The consequence of such a mutation depends upon
the interaction of the mutant offspring with its environment.

It has been suggested that sexual reproduction became the dominant type
of reproduction among organisms because of its inherent advantage of
variability, which is the mechanism that enables a species to adjust to
changing conditions. New variations are potentially present in genetic
differences, but how preponderant a variation becomes in a gene
pool depends upon the number of offspring the mutants or variants produce
(differential reproduction). It is possible for a genetic novelty (new
variation) to spread in time to all members of a population, especially if the
novelty enhances the population’s chances for survival in the environmentin
which it exists. Thus, when a species is introduced into a new habitat, it
either adapts to the change by natural selection or by some other
evolutionary mechanism or eventually dies off. Because each new habitat
means new adaptations, habitat changes have been responsible for the
millions of different kinds of species and for the heterogeneity within each
species.
The total number of extant animal and plant species is estimated at between
roughly 5 million and 10 million; about 1.5 million of those species have
been described by scientists. The use of classification as a means of
producing some kind of order out of the staggering number of different
types of organisms appeared as early as the book of Genesis—with
references to cattle, beasts, fowl, creeping things, trees, and so on. The first
scientific attempt at classification, however, is attributed to the Greek
philosopher Aristotle, who tried to establish a system that would indicate
the relationship of all things to each other

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