subject: Check point: Patterns of Evolution [print this page] Check point: Patterns of Evolution Check point: Patterns of Evolution
Unlike other animals, human have the capability and traits to shape the environment in a different way that other animals cannot. However the history of human evolution reveals that they have evolved in the same way as other animal in their environment (Darwin, 1979). This means that although they have particular traits and capabilities, they are not unique when it comes to evolution. According to Ridley (1996) humans are subject to same pressures that other organisms face in the environment and which cause the process of evolution. The growth in population in face of diminishing natural resources is one of those pressures. However unlike other animals, human have the capability to mitigate this pressure through application of their knowledge.
These are important terms related to evolution that we need to understand;
1. Convergent evolution is where related organism evolves similar characteristics. Example, tails of dolphin and shark
2. Divergent evolution is where close related species adapt different characteristics. Example, smaller Hyracotherium evolved to horses, zebra, and mules
3. Adaptive evolution is where single species move to a different location and evolve to related species. Example Honeycreeper bird of Hawaii
4. Co-evolution is where the evolution of one species affects the other. Example, evolution of Cheetahs and Thomas Gazelles (Bell, 1997).
Take the example of divergent evolution of the small Hyracotherium to the modern horses, zebras and mules. This pattern of evolution may have future impacts on humans owing to the fact that these animals live in close ecology with human. The domestication of the mule and horse means that continuous divergent evolution of these animals may impact on the way human beings uses the animals. At the same the ecology for zebras is growing smaller and smaller and in the future they may diverge to species that will also be domestication by humans.
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