Two major theories on the subject of evolution have been propounded, both of which are highly contentious. These are known as the Theory of Evolution by Charles Darwin and the Theory of Specialization by Richard Dawkins. Although both theories offer an account of how evolution occurs, there is considerable difference between the two as regards their actual details and their explanations as to how populations and species occur. For example, with the theory of evolution by natural selection, there is little mention of the various factors that affect the survival and reproductive success in different environments and times. In the case of Dawkins’ special theory of evolution by genealogy, on the other hand, there is a lot of mention of such factors as sexual reproduction, migration, genetics and other mechanisms.
In the case of Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, all living things are said to be” descended from a common ancestor”. This common ancestor might be a variety of any number of species that survived the original onslaught of Selection pressure. The key here is that Selection pressure was focused on increasing the amount of variation in every single kind of animal or plant, so that each of them would grow uniquely. There is a good deal of controversy as to whether all varieties in nature are derived from a common ancestor or only a few.
In the case of the theory of evolution by genes, differences between actual variations of a gene between people are said to be caused by gene-related molecular changes. So, for example, if a person has a mutation that confers the symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, the disease will affect a person in the same way whether he carries the gene mutation or not. However, when dealing with the debate concerning evolution versus creationism, it should be noted that the genetic differences between organisms are not affecting the ability of those organisms to reproduce or cause the genetic differences in their lineages to propagate. So, in this case, the debate is simply a non-issue.
For the purposes of the discussion, we must also take into consideration the relationship between the DNA and the genetic information. The DNA is, after all, the genetic information expressed by every living cell. As such, it passes on only the information that it contains. However, the information itself is subject to random mutations without any directional control by which it could have been expressed in an unaltered state during its formation. This random process can and does affect the expression of the DNA, and the effects can either favor the formation of abnormal genes or they can prevent the formation of normal genes. So, while it is true that all humans carry the genetic information for every variation of human physical characteristics such as height, hair color, and so forth, the reality is that all human physical characteristics are affected by random mutations over time through the process of natural selection.
In addition to affecting the characteristics of the individual cell or individual cells, the DNA can actually regulate or alter the expression of other genes in the same cell. This is very important in regard to the topic of aging. In many ways, it is possible to use gene therapy to slow down or reverse the aging process. For example, there is now ongoing research that the telomeres, tips of the chromosomes that represent the ends of a cell’s long strand, can be lengthened or shortened, altering the rate at which the cell replicates its genes. This allows the DNA to be regulated, and the result can be a slowing down of the aging process.
There are other ways in which the science of genetics and heredity can be applied to a biological perspective. For example, studies have been conducted in recent years that show that natural selection is indeed playing a role in the evolution and growth of varieties of grapes in a plant’s environment. In these experiments, scientists have found that when a specific variety of grape is introduced into a new area, the surrounding plant life changes significantly, often to the point that the introduced variety is no longer competitively viable. What this means is that the plant has been affected by natural selection, and the modified varieties are now non-competitively better suited to the new surroundings.
In addition, studies of evolution and heredity can be applied to understanding more deeply how people behave in their environments. It has long been understood that humans are built to socialize, with each one forming their own individual social circles and interacting with those within those circles in a fashion similar to the formation of families in nature. Many researchers are currently working on developing tools that will allow the study of evolution and heredity to be deeper and more quantitative. One such tool is Nogenetik, which is currently undergoing testing to determine if Nogenetik, as well as other forms of genetic technologies, have enough power to reveal the relationships between behavior and genetics.
Interestingly enough, studies of evolution and heredity are also being conducted on a much smaller scale, in regards to the potential environmental factors and cultural practices that may affect future generations. For example, a group of Australian scientists recently completed a study to see how the genetic makeup of Asian families might impact the likelihood that the child will experience Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study compared two sets of families – one that was only composed of members who had one Chinese parent and another with one South Asian parent and one European parent. The results showed that genetic differences accounted for about 35% of the variance in ADHD symptoms between these two sets of families.