Live like Kiwi! Options

[Comptine]

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I don't want to be a bitch but that's not quite right. Kiwi shows not Darwin's theory of evolution, but a previous theory brought up by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. His theory was that all organisms strive towards perfection by "acquiring" desirable characteristics. In Kiwi's case, he's "acquiring" wings through his determined usage of it.

Lamarck used the example of giraffes. Early giraffes had short necks. So the short-necked giraffes would try to reach for the fruit on the taller branches by "stretching" their necks, which would encourage the growth of a longer neck over the lifespan. They would then pass this on to their offspring.

This is WRONG. You cannot just acquire longer limbs through repeated exercise. And even if you could, your DNA does not change throughout your lifetime for you to be able to pass this acquired characteristic onto your children.

(in a very small nutshell) Darwin's theory of evolution is different from Lamarck's theory in that Darwin says that mutations occur in the DNA of organisms which makes some of them more well-suited to survive than others. So they survive, the weak ones die and the fit ones continue their genes to the next generation.

Therefore, Kiwi =/= theory of evolution or adaptation

I was quoting my book from Lamark. I just didn't point it out there. If you would like for me to quote:

Use and Disuse - Described how body parts of oranisms can develp with increased usage, while unused parts weken. This idea was correct, as is commonly observed among athletes who train for compettiotions.

Inheritance of acquired characteristics - described how body feeatures acquired during the lifetime of an orgnism (such as muscle bulk) could be passed on to offspring. This, however, was incorrect. Only changes in the genetic material of cells can be passed onto offspring.

Natural transformation of species - descibed how orgnisms produced offspring with changes, transforming each subsequent generation into a slightly different form toward some ultimate, higher order of complexity. Species did not become extingt nor did they split and change into two or more species. This idea was also incorrect.

Evidence for Evoltution

...The fins and body shapes of sharks, penguins, and porpoises are analogous because they are adaptations to swimming.

So, in all. I wasn't talking about Darwinism at all.

[Comptine]

Okay, it's good we got to you before your exam.

Use and Disuse - Described how body parts of oranisms can develp with increased usage, while unused parts weken. This idea was correct, as is commonly observed among athletes who train for compettiotions.

The strengthening does not get passed on to offspring. This happens because less energy is devoted to using the neglected areas. This is why you hear that blind people hear better or smell better. It's because the body does not have to waste resources on the eyes because they are not of use. It has nothing to do with evolution. Maybe a little to do with adaption for the particular person at the particular environment.

Inheritance of acquired characteristics - described how body feeatures acquired during the lifetime of an orgnism (such as muscle bulk) could be passed on to offspring. This, however, was incorrect. Only changes in the genetic material of cells can be passed onto offspring.

Obviously, it refutes itself by saying it's incorrect. Only genetic code can be passed onto the offspring. A new physical development would be coded by a mutation in the genes which would, again, be passed onto the offspring. IT HAS TO BE IN THE CODE.

...The fins and body shapes of sharks, penguins, and porpoises are analogous because they are adaptations to swimming.

NO. NO NO NO. Just because they jumped into the water does not mean they will adapt to swimming by SPROUTING fins out of no where.

They developed it because their ancestors set up the genetics for it. Dolphins and whales had an ancestor that moved from water to land but returned to the water. Reptiles and mammals came from one water dwelling creature that somehow in its ancestry got the mutations to grow arms and legs.

Example: Shark A and Shark B swim along but Shark B has a slightly different shaped fin that allows it to swim faster. Chances are if there's a predator Shark A will get eaten. Shark B will then go on and continue putting its genetic code into the gene pool. Subsequent offspring will have Shark B's fin and they will procreate better than the other sharks because of higher chances of survival. And then so on and so on until all you really see is Shark B's fin.