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In 1859, the release of a groundbreaking book changed the world's understanding of biology and evolution. This curiosity piques your interest, leading you through a series of thought-provoking reflections on Darwin's theories, medical training, and the implications of environmental changes on species adaptation. You examine the relationships between modern birds and ancient ancestors, dissect the concept of "survival of the fittest," and consider the roles of mutation and natural selection. Join this engaging exploration of our natural world and how understanding evolution can reshape our views.
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CHAPTER 12 – END QUESTIONS • It’s 1859 and you’re living in England when this rather inventive book comes out, everyone is talking about it so you decide to read it for yourself – which book is it and how might it change your world view? • After finishing your biology degree you decide to go to medical school. While there, you are trained not to over-prescribe antibiotics and especially in a hospital setting, why is this? • Next time you move around campus take a look at the birds and the other species – what would happen to them if the Earth got a lot colder? how would they need to adapt? what if the Earth got a lot warmer? • Take a look at the plants on campus, there’s no way to dig up the bones of their ancestors and yet we somehow know that they are related – what other methods or techniques might we use to trace descent? • You have a bird feeder at home and you enjoy watching the little birds fly up to it. Sometimes you see the birds jostling for position or noisily chirping at each other, what would Darwin have called this? what role if any does heredity have to play? • You see some joggers going by and you think about the phrase “survival of the fittest” – is this what Darwin meant by “fitness” or was there another meaning altogether? if so, then what was it? • One night you decide to have some fun so naturally that means you crack open your biology book and start reading. You start to wonder about the ‘force’ that drives evolution – what is it really? Also, how is natural selection a numbers game, what role does math have to play? • A television commercial mentions the word “mutant” and the “X-Men” movies notwithstanding you start to think about mutation and genetic variation – how are they related? • You go to the beach on a sunny day and notice some crabs running around. You immediately start thinking of the four causes of microevolution – how might these forces have shaped this local population of crabs?
