Argumentative Essay On Evolution

Argumentative Essay On Evolution
Madison Wenig
Mr. Kellerman
Honors Biology 2
19 May 2017
Evolution
There always has been a controversy whether evolution really did happen or not. Many evolutionists, philosophers and biologists have presented
sufficient evidence that evolution is true. Yet there is still debate about this contentious topic. With the facts and findings offossil records of earlier
species, ideas of initial theorists, and our own genetics and DNA, evolution can be hard to prove wrong. Evolution is not just a change over time, but
that all life on Earth shares a common ancestor. This process is occurring in our lives right now. What exactly is evolution? Evolution is "the process
through which the characteristics of organisms change over successive generations, by means of genetic variation". (What is evolution) Simply,
descent with modification. Charles Darwin was the first person with the acceptable explanation of evolution. Although his theory gave forth too many
tremendous advances, he did not build this theory on his own. He learned and built off earlier theorists, like Jean–Baptiste Lamarck, "who indorsed
linear evolution". (evolution) As well as Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, with his concept of Scala Nature. These early theorists served as a foundation
for Charles Darwin's theory. Although Darwin's theory was important, a greater attribution to evolution was founded. That is the uncovering of fossils.
Fossils are significant to the evolution because they show how life on Earth was
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Essay on The Debate Over Birds and Feathered Dinosaurs
The Debate Over Birds and Feathered Dinosaurs Because dinosaurs are animals that lived millions of years ago, we are entirely dependent on the
fossils that they have left behind for any understanding that we hope to gain. As any paleontologist will tell you, fossil hunting is difficult. There are
no certainties, no guarantees. A certain amount of luck is as valuable as any scientific knowledge. Every so often a discovery is made that attempts to
shake up pre–conceived notions of how the dinosaurs actually lived or how they came to be. On June 22, 2000, in Oregon, scientists announced the
discovery of the oldest known animal to have feathers. Though no records indicate how the age of the animal was determined, the... Show more content
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In fact, those that actually subscribe to the feathered Longisquama theory are a decided minority in the paleontological community. The detractors of
"Nonavian Feathers in a Late Triassic Archosaur" believe that the feather–like impressions in the fossil are not even feathers at all. Based on the angle
and shape of the imprints, many paleontologists believe that they were left by 'highly modified scales', or possibly even ferns that had fallen on the
animal's body after death.4 Disregarding the feathers of Longisquama, and therefore disregarding its link to Archaeopteryx, these scientists still fully
support the dinosaur–bird link. As mentioned before, the extreme majority of paleontologists still subscribe to this idea. A recent discovery in the
western region of China seems to clarify the link between dinosaurs and birds. Living at roughly the same time as Archaeopteryx, Sinovenator
changii is very closely related to the bird yet is classified as a dinosaur.5 This discovery is widely regarded as very good evidence that dinosaurs and
birds share evolutionary traits, and disputes the assertion that they are unrelated; as made by those that support the 'feathered' Longisquama findings.
As if this finding wasn't enough, other feathered dinosaurs have been discovered in the same region of China. Protarchaeopteryx and Caudipteryx zoui
lived about 125 and 145 million years

Explanation Of Natural Selection
Explanation of the concept of natural selection and how it takes place
–Natural selection is the process where organisms that have more advantageous adaptions that benefit its survival in its environment then breed and
produce offspring with similar traits that then have a greater chance of survival. For natural selection to occur there are essential elements that are
required; variation, heritability and excess production. For the formation of a new species there must be variation within a species so that some may
have slightly better adaptions to the climate, diseases or other survival traits like better camouflage. The organisms that possess these adaptions are
sometimes called more fit; this is called 'survival of the fittest'. The 'fitter' organisms will then reproduce and their offspring will inherit the ... Show
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The explanation that was given for this was that recent organisms only can be descendants of organisms that lived in the same area in ancient times.
For example British settlers brought horses and cows into Australia so there are no native descendants of horses and cows there. Thus there are two
main pieces of evidence in fossils that support Darwin's evolution ideas; using isotope dating methods, ancient fossils contained simpler organisms and
younger fossils contained more advanced organisms. Another piece of evidence in fossils is that organisms retain some feature through the
generations along with obtaining new ones. For example, the fossils of the Archaeopteryx have shown that the creature had feature of a reptile (teeth,
claws and jointed tail) along with ones of a bird (beak, feathers and a

Archaeopteryx Research Paper
For my research project, I did it on the archaeopteryx and the dodo bird. The archaeopteryx, also known as the "ancient wing". It comes from the 2
Greek words archaД«os, meaning "ancient," and ptГ©ryx, meaning "wing." The Dodo bird or the "flightless bird" is another example of an extinct
species that is included in this paper.
The archaeopteryx, once thought of as the "First Bird" or "Urvogel" was a avian/reptile. The Archaeopteryx was believed to live about 150 million years
ago, towards the end of the Jurassic period. The Aviandinosaur was a carnivore and scientist believe it prayed on small animals, which it would pick
up in its talons. It also had wings like any other avian, but scientist are not completely sure if it could fly, glide or it even be another type of flightless
bird, like the Dodo.
The structure of the reptilian/ avian has many similarities and differences to the modern bird, which is why it's understandable that the scientist were
not sure what to categorize the creature. The size of the Ancient Wing, is typically the size of a modern day raven with the weight of only 2 pounds. A
distinguishing trait about the creature is the fact it had a full set of teeth which lead scientist to believe that this animal is in fact a ... Show more content
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This species is in the columbidae family, a family made up of doves and pigeons. The dodo bird does everything on the ground, including nest, which
is extremely uncommon for any type of avian. Another amazing fact about these interesting creature is that appearance of the dodo bird was only
confirmed in 2007, though their has been many drawings of the creature they were all amateur drawings of all of these characters. The reason why the
dodo birds where able to nest on the ground is because during there time of existence and the environment around them, the species around them posed
no

Intelligent Design: The Four Theories Of Challenging...
Challenging Evolution Have you ever looked around and wondered how life on Earth came to be? Attempting to answer this question, researchers have
proposed the following four theories: creationism, intelligent design, theistic evolution, and evolution. Creationism is defined as the belief that God
created all things out of nothing as described in the Bible and, therefore, the theory of evolution is incorrect (Merriam–Webster). The theory of
creationism became popular around the time of the Protestant Reformation (Ruse). Intelligent design is the theory that matter, the various forms of life,
and the world were created by a designing intelligence, such as a God (Merriam–Webster). Intelligent design came about when people in the nineteenth
century... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This is believed to be a transitional between reptile and bird. However, there are six points that these supporters use with counterarguments with
each one. First, this animal had a long bony tail similar to that of a reptile's (Martin). Conversely, most birds have a tail vertebrae in the embryonic
stage which eventually forms into the pgyostyle which is an upstanding bone. The second point is that the Archaeopteryx had claws on its feet and
feathered forelimbs (Martin). This cannot be used as evidence because many birds, such as the ostrich for example, have claws so it is not just a
characteristic of reptiles (Martin). The third argument was that the bird had teeth but yet so did many ancient birds in the Mesozoic (Martin). The
fourth statement used is the presence of a shallow breastbone (Martin). Similarly, most modern birds have the same shallow breastbone that are still
classified solely as birds. The second last argument for the Archaeopteryx being the transitional fossil is the its bones were not hollow like modern
birds but rather solid. This statement cannot be used however because it was discovered in recent years that the long bones in the bird are hollow.
The final point and counterargument is that it predates the general arrival of birds by millions of years (Martin). A geologist in 1977 discovered bird
fossils in western Colorado that dated as far back as 60–million years

Evolution vs. Creationism Essay
Evolution vs. Creationism
The Evolution vs. Creationism controversy goes all the way back to the Publishing of Origin of Species in 1859 by Darwin laying the foundation for
the evolution of life to be understood. Scientists are continuously finding more evidence to support Darwin's conclusion; that organisms descended
from a common ancestor modified by the mechanism of natural selection resulting in the evolution of species adapting to their environment. The
following are the main geological topics concerning creationism: radiometric dating, transitional forms and the Cambrian explosion. Creationism is
nothing more than a child's fairytale that lacks any scientific proof.
The aspect of radiometric dating is controversial to most ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Plus or minus a couple million years has a negligible effect on the results attempting to be obtained. Radiometric dating consistently prove from
analysis of bolide fragments that the earth is about 4.6 billion years old and once again disproving the Bible's 6,000 years. The problem for
creationism is that they can't prove there 'fairytale' correct because it's based on little fact, so they attempt to make the other valid ideas sound
ridiculous. Therefore, creationism attempts to prove radiometric dating incorrect and is nothing more than a feeble attempt to bring credibility to there
own ideas and beliefs.
Secondly, a once thought problem with evolution was the lack of transitional phases in the fossil record. For example it was once thought there were no
transitional phases between birds and reptiles; this has now been proven false by paleontologists. Archaeopteryx has distinctive avian characteristics
including a wishbone, a bony sternum and feathers (Geology). Several of its reptilian characteristics include unfused metacarpal bones, a long bony tail
and three well developed fingers. What is also interesting is that archaeopteryx lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. Again, it seems as if creationists
randomly start making assumptions in an attempt to slander other valid theories rather than proving there's correct (even thought that's impossible). "If
evolution were true, there would be more transitional

The Order Falconiformes Is Less Unified Than Other Orders...
The order Falconiformes is less unified than other orders of birds. Specific features of particular groups resulted from similar ways of life, which
gives the Falconiformes similar adaptations. Taxonomy systems even divide this order into three orders of Vultures, Raptors and Falconids. The
most frequent classification, under which 295 species are divided into 5 families: Cathartidae, Pandionidae, Accipitridae, Sagittariidae and
Falconidae. Falconids (Falconidae) includes 61 species from almost all over the world. Birds of Prey have adapted to hunting for prey by having
their four toes arranged in a 3:1 perching grip, their claws have evolved in to razor sharp talons that easily allow birds of prey to rip through theirs
preys flesh whilst in flight. With specialised hunters such as the Accipitridae and Falconidae, their back talon is the longest and sharpest to secure
the prey while in flight. Birds of prey also rely on their specialised bill and upper mandible features characteristic projections, tomial teeth and
sharp hooked bills to tear the flesh of their prey. Birds of prey have proportionally larger eyes for their head and have correspondingly keen
eyesight. Similar to all predators and prey, most birds of prey have slightly forward facing eyes in comparison to smaller birds that are preyed upon.
Most birds of prey don't have a sense of smell with exception to the New and Old World Vultures (Cathartidae and Accipitridae) which uses their sense
of smell to scavenge

Cursorial Theory
Another, and possibly outlandish hypothesis, is in par with Chlamydosaurus kingii, and is usually coined the Cursorial Theory. Chlamydosaurus kingii,
also known as the Australian Frilled Neck Lizard, employs a whimsical mode of transportation. Aquila audax, the largest bird of prey in Australia,
supports as a constant threat to Chlamydosaurus kingii, as its highly efficacious eyesight extends into the infrared and ultraviolet bands. This is called
Tetrachromacy. Tetrachromacy is the state of retaining four autonomous channels for transmitting color data, or bearing four distinct varieties of cone
cells. Modern birds can grasp a frequency interval of 430–1000 THz, or simply speaking, red light to near ultraviolet light. That being said,
Archaeopteryx... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It occupied in the early Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period, approximately 150.8–148.5 million years ago. A. lithographica had been unearthed in the
Solnhofen Limestones in Bavaria, Germany, located in the southwest portion of Germany. In the modern age, Bavaria boasts distinct seasons, due to
its position in the continental climate zone. Commencing during the vernal equinox, precipitation deluges Bavaria constantly, on the behalf of the rain
shadow effect. The rain shadow effect prescribes that mountains compel the air to ascend in order to journey above them. This results in air of a
lower temperature. Bavaria has an elevated mountain chain coined the Bavarian Alps. If the air mass is traversing from west to east, the areas on the
west (windward) side will receive the rain. Oppositely, the areas on the east (leeward) side will reside with the torrid air, and receive little to no
monsoon. Contrarily, the climate in the Jurassic Period differentiated superlatively as it was moderately littered with trees, abundant in invertebrates,
significantly barren, semi–tropical with tainted waters, and a quaggy texture embodied the land. Germany 155 million years ago was mostly
comprised of a balmy, shallow sea, mottled with islands. Organism such as sponges and corals thrived in these seas, burgeoning large enough to form
reefs, which effectively partitioned the body of water into tinier

How Does Modern Life Evolve Over Millions Of Years Or Was...
Did modern life evolve over millions of years or was it created by God? The controversy started when Charles Darwin published his book On the
Origin of Species. His theory of evolution stated that all life evolved from a single–celled organism. However, creationists rejected this theory. They
referenced the Bible's Book of Genesis for the historical account of how life was created. But without a doubt, there is undeniable evidence to support
the fact that life on earth came from a common ancestor. With the recent advances in both science and technology, scientists can use fossil records,
genetic changes and anatomical similarities to prove that life as we know it evolved from one common ancestor.
The remains and imprints of organisms found in earlier geological periods are still preserved in sedimentary rocks. These fossil records allow
scientists to look through vast periods of time and attest to the fact that some species have transitional traits found in larger groups of organisms. This
proves that species evolved from a distant ancestor and were not fixed there by God. Animals such as apes and the Archaeopteryx are evidence of the
missing links and the gaps humanity has filled in the fossil records. They are also examples of transitional species that have tied different groups of
species together through common traits and skeletal features. Fossil records also prove that single–celled organisms were succeeded by multi–celled
organisms which ties back to Charles Darwin

Creationists Proof Of Evolution
Creationists Proof of an Omnipotent Creator vs. Evolutionists Proof of Evolution
Over the past 160 years, the world views of Creationists and Evolutionists have debated against each other in a struggle to claim ultimate victory
over the other ("Carbon Dating." An Encyclopedia). The struggle over the same evidence and the same proof that both sides say support their claim
is endless. Overall, it comes to which side is the most reasonable and the most believable. Evolutionists say the universe, earth and its species have
evolved over millions of years. Creationists say that the universe, the earth and its species were created by an omnipotent Creator (Birx. "Darwin,
Charles." Encyclopedia of Time). Creationism at one point in our society was the only solution we had for life around us. It is centered on God as the
creator of everything. However on November 24, 1859 a naturalist by the name of Charles Darwin Published The Book of Origins, which suggested
that man evolved from a creature over millions of years (Darwin, Charles." Encyclopedia of Time). He called this idea evolution.With these two
different worldviews in mind when looking at the stars, the mountains, and the trees in all their beauty or see all the life in its own unique way. It's
hard to imagine all these ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Creationist's worldview of an omnipotent Creator who created everything is stronger than Evolutionists worldview of millions of years of change
because evolution over millions of years is

Flexible Discriminant Analysis
The furcula is the main element of avian flight; it is an important origin for flight muscles used in the down stroke. Many biomechanical functions have
been suggested for the Furcular. Originally it was thought to play a motionless function, acting as a spacer and muscle for flight. Other studies showed
a more active role, where the furcular experience distortions during the wingbeat cycle, where it spread laterally on the down stroke and rebounding
during the upstroke, almost acting like a spring. This behavior might represent an energy saving adaptation to help with respiration. Past studies have
found that found that subaqueous fliers have more of a V– shaped furcular with a high anteroposterior curvature, whereas soaring bird are more
U–shaped with low anteroposterior curvature. This study seeks to clarify this form–function relationship through the use of eigenshape morphometric
analysis along with phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs), and phylogenetic Flexible Discriminant Analysis (pFDA). Examination of flight
modes revealed that intermittent bounders are associated with narrow interclavicular angles and straight clavicular rami. Short range fliers have a small
anteroposterior curvature where larger... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Past studies showed the strength of the form and function relationship in the avian furcula, while this study examined the form and function in more
modern Mesozoic birds. This study revealed that eigenshape analysis of Arvin birds furcular allows for more derived flight modes. This study
confirmed that soaring birds have a more U–shaped furcula than continuously–flapping birds. It also observed that the interclavicular angle is an even
more important aspect of flight mode than the curvature, and is positively correlated with body size. This study demonstrates that the Mesozoic taxa
have evolved unique flight modes through different musculoskeletal

Evolution vs. Creation Science
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. once stated, "There is no future for a people who deny their past" (Applewhite, Evans, III, and Frothingham 474). This
statement has rung true for the world for centuries; the majority of individuals cannot fathom the concept of discovering how mankind came to be
through scientific nature. By denying this truth, the world will not be able to develop. Evolution is verifiable in comparison to creation science because
of the theories, evidence, and the increasing acceptance in today's society. In order to discuss the irrefutable nature of evolution, one must be able to
fully grasp the history of this groundbreaking knowledge. Evolution is often described as a change that has occurred over an extended period of time. ...
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One form of evidence is known as the fossil record; this is the documentation of one species that has transitioned into another form. A prime example
of the fossil record is the evolution of birds. These flying creatures are often considered direct descendants of dinosaurs; Thomas Henry Huxley
constructed this notion in the 1860s. Evidence of this theory came about in 1861 when the first, complete skeleton was discovered; the skeleton was of
the Archaeopteryx lithographica. There was no mistaking that Archaeopteryx lithographica was a dinosaur because of features it adorned, including a
bony tail, teeth, and claws on the wings. The troubling detail of this ancient creature was a new feature that had been discovered: feathers. This ignited
the on–going search for dinosaurian skeletons, providing clear evidence in support of Darwin's theory. In addition, direct observation has provided an
enormous amount of evidence to prove a major component of Darwin's theory of evolution: natural selection. The first piece of evidence is the
infamous peppered moths. The peppered moths are also known as Biston betularia; they are commonly found in Britain. The moths often fly during
the night but they rest on trees during the day; this is a clever way to camouflage themselves from predators. There are two very common types of
these moths: the typicall and carbonaria. The typicall can be described as a pale, speckled moth that is hidden

Evolution vs Intelligent Design Essay
The suggested separation between church and state in contemporary America is not what the framers of our constitution and our country had in mind
as they wrote the words "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." After
deconstructing the words, the most insignificant adjective "an," tells us that the framers wanted to restrain Congress from installing any one religion as
the official religion of the state. Those immortal words say nothing about religion informing congress or society on policy, education, or progress. I
maintain that the first amendment's establishment clause regarding religion was to protect citizens' free exercise of religion from state interests and...
Darwinian evolution is the theory that life after appearance and over time endured mutation and adaptation through natural selection to eventually yield
modern man from the same source, a single cell. ID is the theory that life exists in its present forms as the product of a purposeful design. Both theories
use natural science to support their ideological conclusions such as embryology, genetics, and biochemistry. A key to these theories being comparable
is that they both suggest that a preexisting being sparked life on Earth. Within evolution this point is highly debated and denied by many, however the
father of evolution, Charles Darwin, expressed in the Origin of Species his belief that the first cell received its spark of life "by the Creator." (Darwin
1900, 316) This will soon be important as a reason why evolution should not be taught in public education at all if you believe that the first
amendment means a separation between church and state as evolution at its roots tells us that God created life on earth. ID at its roots also asserts that
an entity also lit the initial sparks of life on earth. A core difference between the premises of these two theories is found in their assertions of the
identity of this being and will be analyzed next. In contrast, these theories are substantially different. Darwinian evolution assumes that after the
emergence of the first living cell eons passed as that cell self–replicated and began the

What Are The Four Main Categories Of Evidence Of Evolution
The four main categories of evidence for evolution in accordance to the BAT tutorials are: fossil records, chemical and anatomical similarities,
geographic distribution of related species, and genetic changes over generations. Fossil records allow researchers to examine evolution through past
species. One example is the Archaeopteryx, a million year old fossil found in southern Germany that had characteristics of both dinosaurs and birds.
This fossil finding resulted as the discovery that birds had evolved from reptilian ancestors. Also, the similarities between body structures in vertebrates
make for a distinct link leading to the conclusion that they must share a common ancestor or a similarity in how they came to be. Additionally, the
geographic location of certain species determines their evolution patterns. In certain areas of the world, there are animals that are native to that land
and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Lastly, a species genetic alter over time in order to survive. In the case of a drastic environmental
change that results in death, those that survive do so because they possess traits that allow them to survive. These are the only ones that will be
likely to reproduce. Selective breeding in dogs is an example genetic changes over evolution. In these cases, dog breeders mate different breeds of
dogs together in order to achieve the desired traits they want in a new breed of dog. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The finches illustrate this by their ability to adapt to the altering periods of wet and dry spells on the island they reside in. Finches also have beaks
according to their available source of nutrition based on their

Genetic Cloning In Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park
Michael Crichton's novel "Jurassic Park," is a science fiction story about bringing dinosaurs back to life through genetic cloning. Throughout the book
there are several references that dinosaurs are actually birds, not reptiles.
Crichton did his research when writing these books because the science behind everything is correct. Dr. Henry Wu, the chief geneticist, cloned the
DNA from insects in amber, a hard yellow resin of dried tree sap. Throughout the novel,
Dr. Alan Grant, a paleontologist, is asked to come to John Hammond's island along with other scientists. Dennis Nedry, a computer programmer, shuts
off electricity, and dies why stealing embryos, leaving no one to turn it back on; the back up generator isn't enough to power the entire security system.
This leaves ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The first bird is debated to be the Archaeopteryx, discovered in Germany, believed to be 145 million years old. It resembled a crow–sized animal with
feathers. If the feathers were not found, it would have been identified as a small dinosaur. It did however have a wishbone, found in birds, and it had
bird like feet.
Researchers believe that dinosaurs shrunk in size while adapting to new changes in the environment. Researchers believe birds descended from
two–legged dinosaurs,
Theropods. The skull itself is believed to have gone from a Velociraptor, to
Archaeopteryx, to modern day chickens and pigeons. Some differences from the
Archaeopteryx and chicken are the size of the brain, eye cavities, and beak. The
Archaeoptreryx had teeth, where as the chicken does not. Dinosaurs started shrinking to enable flight.
In Jurassic Park, they compare the way dinosaurs walk, the size or their arms and legs, the hinged knee and ankle, the bobbing of the head when they
walk, and their toes.
They had to compare them to reptiles because Dr. Wu and to supplement other DNA in to the broken DNA they discovered for clone. The dinosaurs
couldn't see Grant if he

Contradiction Between the Theory of Evolution and the Bible
Charles Darwin was a British scientist who founded the theory of evolution and changed the way we think about the natural world. Darwin was born
on February 12, 1809 and lived during the Industrial Revolution. As a child, Darwin initially planned to become a doctor, but his plan terminated
when he joined the five year expedition on the survey ship, the HMS Beagle, in 1831. In the expedition, Darwin developed a theory and published a
book call The Origin of Species. This book was the beginning of what we know about evolution, and it was controversial. The book brought
disputations between devoted christians and darwinists on the validity of evolution. During that period of time, most Europeans believed that the world
was created by God in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Due to the contradiction, a significant event happened in that past, and it was called the Scope Trial. The Scope Trial was an American legal case in
1925 about a high school teacher, John Scopes, teaching evolution. Teaching evolution violated Tennessee's Butler Act, which is an act that made it
unlawful to teach evolution in any state–funded school, so he ended up in prison. John Scopes was just a believer of evolution, but his belief brought
him inconvenience and trouble, because evolution and Christianity were two extreme sides that were not able to make peace and mediate. When
Darwin died, he took back what he said about the theory of evolution. He states, "How I wish I had not expressed my theory of evolution as I have
done," (Moore). Darwin took his theory to his deathbed, because he was attacked by the church for developing the theory of evolution. Although
Darwin took his theory back, but he had made us wanting to figure out whether evolution really occurred or not. To determine the validity of evolution,
there are different modern technologies now that are able to help us decide if evolution really occurred or not. An example of this can be paleontology.
Through paleontology, scientists discovered a famous transitional form call Archaeopteryx. Archaeopteryx is able to provide evidence of an
evolutionary pathway from dinosaurs to birds. Using technologies, there are

Evolution Of Flight Research Paper
Flight is a very complex function, and in order to develop into what we know now as birds, there are several major evolutionary changes that needed
to develop to maturity. In order for fly, the skeletal structure, musculature, respiratory system, circulatory systems, and feathers must all be adapted to
allow for an organism to take flight. Many scientists have proposed theories about the origin of flight, but the Arboreal and Cursorial theories have
emerged as the strongest cases. Arboreal theories are based around the idea that the organisms climbing into trees jump out of those trees and glide
down, eventually adapted to flap to increase drag. This theory is based in the skeletal similarities of gliding animals to those of birds.1 This
tree–hopping evolution hypothesis is supported by Archaeopteryx, one of the prime examples of a transitional animal for flight. Archaeopteryx
presents with long unfused claws that are adaptations for climbing and grasping.3 In addition, there are also presence of a furcula, and a bid like pes
with a reversed hallux. These adaptations also account for... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Any lift that would come out of the winged features would generate drag causing a loss in acceleration. 1 However, just as the Arobreal theory was
supported by Archaeopteryx, the Cursorial theory is also strongly supported by this specimen. Archaeopteryx demonstrates a complete set of conical
teeth and claws that were sharp and resembling the specimens relative Ornitholestes, a known predaceous animal.3 The Archaeopteryx also resembles
therapods with a reversed hallux, hindlimb, and pelvis.3 Even though this theory is supported using fossil evidence, it does have some problems which
have lead to the development of theories such as the WAIR

Evolution Vs. Fossil Records
Evolution has been a widely known discussion that many people have had over the past century, the theory of evolution has been welcomed by many
scientists yet by some religious people it has been a taboo topic. The thought or the motion to entertain that humans evolved from primates is what
some people would shudder and state that it goes against all their religious beliefs. However, scientist have pushed on the fact that evolution is not just a
hypothetical or an outlandish theory but a theory that has multiple hard evidence to back it and that to ignore is ignorance and just plain stupidity.
Four types of evidence of evolution are fossil records, genetic changes, the geographic distribution of species, and the similarities in embryos of
species. One of the evidences of evolution is fossil records, with fossil records being the remains of plants and animals that scientist have found in
sedimentary rocks. Fossil records have given us irrefutable evidence of evolution in the past, over a course of a long period of time, proving there is
significant variation amongst living things. Evolution is a continuum; all the minor changes over a period of time add up to a major change. On the
continuum, fossils are the points that displaying what the organism had become after evolving at that stage in time.
Although fossil records are substantial evidence for evolution there are gaps in the fossil records due to the fact of incompletion of the collecting data.
As evolution is

Decoding Fossils of Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs lived on earth 65 million years ago. They lived on the earth much before any human being was born. They ruled the earth for over 165
million years, till 65 million years ago. They were huge monsters, even bigger than elephants. The word "dinosaur" was taken from a Greek word
which means terrible lizard. But they weren't exactly lizards. Lizards are one type of reptile and dinosaurs are another type. Not all dinosaurs were
giants. Some dinosaurs were no bigger than small dogs. The smallest kind was about the size of a chicken.
No human being has seen a living dinosaur but, scientists have many ways of learning about them. One important way is by studying fossils. Fossils
give scientists a vast amount of information about ancient ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When a plant or animal dies its stores of carbon–14 begins to get depleted because like all radioactive elements, carbon–14 loses its atoms over a
period of time. Its half–life is 5,568 years. Half–life is a period over which a sample of radioactive element loses about half the number of its atoms.
Sample of carbon–14 loses half the number of its atoms in a span of 5,568 years.
The older the fossil the less carbon–14 it contains. But radiocarbon dating can be used to study fossils that are up to about 40,000 years old. For
fossils older than this, other method which uses other radioactive elements such as uranium, rubidium, etc. are used. These can accurately determine
the age of fossils that are billions of years old.
The geological time scale has been worked out by the paleontologists. The chief divisions in scales are eras, periods and epochs. The eras are the
largest of the scale divisions. The major eras were Paleozoic era, Mesozoic era and the Cenozoic era. Among these the Mesozoic era is also called the
age of reptiles and is divided into three periods: The Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous. The Jurassic period was dominated by dinosaurs. They ruled the
land, sea and the air during this period. They were like the kings.
В‘T–Rex' means Tynnosaurus rex, most ferocious of all the dinosaurs. The name means tyrant–lizard king. It was so scary and so huge. Tynnosaurus
stood nearly 3 meters high at the hips and grew about 13 meters long.

Essay Tetrapods
The early Devonian period is largely considered to be a world of a diverse array of lobe–finned fish, including lungfish, coelacanths, and bony fish.
Over the course of time, vertebrates made evolutionary strides with provided them with the ability to travel on land. Coelacanths developed a single
boned shoulder girdle, lungfish developed paired fins, and sauripterus developed the major structures on the arm (humerus, radius, and ulna). As these
developments progressed and environmental pressures were amounting in aquatic environments, vertebrates began to venture onto land. Sometimes it
was for short excursions, sometimes a bit longer. A major step invertebrate evolution was the advancement of the tetrapod, a vertebrate animal with ...
Many species are completely aquatic during the juvenile part of the lifecycle. For example, frogs have to reproduce in water because amphibian eggs do
not have the protection of the amniotic sac. As a result, the adults must return to a water source to reproduce. As tadpoles grow into adults they form
limbs that allow them to walk on land. Because of the restriction to semi–aquatic environment, the tetrapod structure of amphibians is not as diverse as
the other classes of tetrapods. However, there are groups that deviate from the norm by a lot. Caecilians are limbless amphibians. At first glance
they do not look like tetrapods but the lack of limbs is a derived secondary characteristic. Their bodies have adapted for burrowing in the ground.
Reptiles, the next tetrapods to emerge, were a very successful version of amphibians. As opposed to amphibians, reptiles did not require water for the
reproduction process they produced shelled amniotic eggs to protect their embryos from the environment. Due to the reduced dependence on water,
reptiles were able to explore many new environments and as a result their limbs evolved in a variety of ways. Crocdylotarsians developed a "normal
ankle" which swings to the side when walking, making walking slightly more efficient. Dinosaurs developed a hole in their hip socket that allowed
them to stand upright and to move significantly faster. Another way some terrestrial reptiles

Dinosaurs And Birds Essay
Dinosaurs and Birds
Are birds really dinosaurs or are they simply related? That is a question that has gained new life in recent years due to the overwhelming facts the
are pouring in from newly found fossils and studies from fossils that have been found in the past. Two groups have formed in the study of this
question: those who believe birds are a direct result of dinosaurs and those who feel dinosaurs and birds must have had a common ancestor.
Determining which view is correct is a matter of opinion based on fact. The main problem involves the use of cladistics or phylogenetic systematics to
group organisms according to characteristics they share. When one looks at dinosaur fossils, he or she may feel that certain ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Also, support is gaining that Archaeopteryx was not in fact the first bird, but instead a descendent of an earlier bird ancestor that had developed along a
different pathway and actually represents an evolutionary dead end.
Two opponents of the "birds are dinosaurs theory" are Alan Feduccia of the University of North Carolina and Larry Martin of the University of
Kansas. They believe that birds evolved from some unknown reptile from a time before dinosaurs came to be. One point they make is that flight
must have begun from tree climbing or an arboreal ancestor but that all the proposed dinosaurian ancestors were ground dwellers or cursorial On the
other side, supporters for the "birds are dinosaurs theory" feel there is an unknown dinosaur bird that was arboreal, or simply that birds evolved flight
from the ground by chasing after insects.
In recent years other fossil finds have stirred the argument even more. One of these is the fossil named Sinosauroptyrex found in China. It appears to
be an important link between birds and dinosaurs. Sinosauropteryx appears to be a feathered dinosaur having a mane of feathers along its neck, back,
and tail–a feature until then seen only in birds. Sinosauroptyrex appears before Archaeopteryx and gives a substantial link between the theropods and
birds. One opponent of this find is Martin who feels the

Theropod Dinosaurs
Birds have been around for a long time. We see them every day and everywhere we go but have you ever stopped and wondered where they came from
and how they fly? Paleontologists, ornithologists, and other scientists have been trying to understand where birds came from, understanding feathers,
and why, when, and how birds fly. Most of these questions are still being studied today.
The origin of birds began during the Mesozoic Era in the Jurassic Period, about 200 Ma (million years) to 146 Ma ago. All birds today were derived
from theropod dinosaurs. Theropod dinosaurs include some of the most recognized dinosaurs today including, Tyrannosaurus, Velociraptor, and
Spinosaurus. The relation between theropod dinosaurs and birds came from the discovery ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
After the discovery of Archaeopteryx it became the "missing link" in connecting the dots to where birds derived from. From studying the earliest
feathers and coming up with theories as to why a bird evolved to fly are vital questions that yet to be understood and answered

What Is Fossil Evidence?
Fossil Evidence
Fossil evidence is a great way to analyse the effects of evolution. The first statement posed by somebody when a person trying to prove a point is:
prove it. Fossil evidence does just that by providing proof in the forms of preserved life–forms which previously inhabited the earth. The stratigraphic
column is a layering of sedimentary rocks which contain fossils in them (McMullen et al., 2014). The erosion of these rocks carves through this
layering to provide a timeline of fossils. The theory of superposition goes hand in hand with the geological column, this is seen in Bighorn Basin in
Wyoming, U.S.A., where the more anatomically complex and younger fossils, such as tetrapods and vertebrates, appear at the top of the geological ...
The unzipping of the internal "instructions" which code for body function was discovered and the marvellous molecule of DNA and the genetic
code was discovered for the first time in the 1900's (Pray, 2008). Genetic sequencing is the method by which the building blocks of DNA, nucleotide
base pairs, are ordered to create a gene instruction (Olsvik et al. 1993). These gene sequences can be used in comparison between different species to
link any common genetic traits (Hedges & Kumar, 2002). In Hedges and Kumar article about vertebrate genomes it was found that Homo sapiens,
Human beings, had a similar genome size compared to Pan troglodytes, the common chimpanzee. It was also found that because these animals were
phylogenetically similar, there genomes were roughly the same size, but when compared to the genome sizes for more simpler anatomic animals such
as Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl or chicken, or the Tetraodon nigrovirdis, spotted green pufferfish, there was a huge difference in genomic sizes with
the chicken and pufferfish having substantially smaller genomic size (Hedges & Kumar, 2002). This again shows the evolution of genome size evolution
in combination with the evolution of more complex anatomical structures. Molecular biology can be used in other ways such as tracking and comparing
differences and similarities in protein structures in microstructures such as vessels or bone fragments. An example

Jurassic Period Research Paper
The Jurassic Period is a time period were new dinosaurs were being discovered and found. It was about 199.6 to 145.5 million years ago. Some of
the species that were found in the Jurassic Period are the Stegosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Brachiosaurus, and Allosaurus. Each dinosaur had their own
characteristics for survival. The weather in the Jurassic Period was warm and humid. "The tectonic shift took place, several rifts were formed and
filled with water, forming, what would later become many of today's oceans and seas. These "oceans" were small and shallow giving way to an
excellent, warm, tropical climate." "Surface waters in the low latitudes were about 20 В°C (68 В°F), while deep waters were about 17 В°C (63 В°F)."
Some of the plant fossils... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The scientists believe that the herbivores ran out of plants, and trees and so all of the herbivores died and after all of the herbivores died, all of the
Carnivores died as well. Another theory is that a big asteroid hit the Earth, and the asteroid caused a global extinction.. The final theory that the
scientists thought of happening was a disease. Disease may of happened from one dinosaur getting sick and then it just passed on from dinosaur to
dinosaur. I would like to live during that time period because it would be a cool sight to see all of the dinosaurs and seeing what really happened to
them. Another reason why I would like to live during their time period is to see what kind of habitat their living in and how they react. The final
reason why I would like to live in the Jurassic Period would be that I would like to study their behavior towards other dinosaurs, and how some of
them evolve throughout their lifetime. In conclusion, we rely on fossils and other scientific findings to help us understand how dinosaurs lived so long
ago. The Jurassic Period was one of the more fascinating periods to learn about and one of the more interesting things that I've

Theropod Dinosaurs Research Paper
Dinosaurs capture the attention of children and adults alike, and many people think that they are long gone. You might be surprised to find that they
are not extinct, but rather perching in your backyard. The theory that theropods evolved into birds was proposed nearly a century and a half ago and
is supported by more and more modern evidence. You will find that the distinction between birds and dinosaurs will become difficult, as they have so
many parallels. The similarities between birds and dinosaurs strongly suggest that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs.
The theory that theropod dinosaurs are the ancestors of modern birds originated after the discovery of Archeopteryx lithographica in 1861 in Solnhofen,
Germany. Thomas Huxley, a strong supporter of Charles... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Ratites and penguins are two groups of flightless birds we have today. The origin of flight is an ongoing debate from scientists, but there are two
main theories: that flight evolved arboreally or that it evolved from ground dwelling dinosaurs. Both have compelling evidence. The theory that flight
started in the trees begins with WAIR (Wing Assisted Incline Running). Discovered in 2001 by Ken Dial at the University of Montana, it is the way
many ground dwelling birds get into trees to rest at night. These birds would flap their wings back and forth (rather than up and down) to generate
traction. The larger the wing size, the steeper the angle a bird could run up (Holtz 149). Also supporting this theory is the presence of toes adapted for
perching in several species of dinosaurs. From there, the dinosaurs could have glided from tree to tree and eventually taken flight. A ground dwelling
origin of flight also has convincing evidence. A study found that non–avian feathered theropods could get a boost of speed by flapping their wings
(Sloan 51). Therefore, longer feathers and bigger wings meant faster speeds until flight could

Archaeop Lotteryx Research Paper
Theoretically, birds are said to have evolved from small carnivorous dinosaurs by fossils discovered in China, South America and other countries. The
fossils were looked with different perspectives than initially, and by analyzing them with special methods. The first known bird to man was the
Archaeopteryx, which was discovered around the early 1860s. It had feathers exactly like current day birds however, had teeth, a long bony tail and
other factors that put these recognized characteristics under the reptile category of a specific species; dinosaurs.
There is much evidence that supports the link between dinosaurs and birds. As stated before, the Archaeopteryx is one of scientists' most valuable
sources of evidence and this bird was analysed

The Ancestry Of Birds: The Evolution Of Birds
Garret Lee
Mrs. Miller
English 12
January 8, 2015
The Ancestry of Birds The debate over the origin of birds has been a heated and controversial topic among not only paleontologists but also
geneticists, biologists, and even scholars of religion. The proposal that perhaps birds find their ancestors among the infamous dinosaurs is one that has
ample support from various sources of evidence. This highly contested topic is beginning to come to a resolution as the hypothesis that birds evolved
from dinosaurs receives confirming proofs from fossil, biological, and genetic evidence. It can be concluded that birds can find their distant ancestors
in prehistoric dinosaurs. The assertion that a certain clade of dinosaurs were modified by natural selection ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, few early on could have guessed that the 'terrible lizards' they were unearthing were the ancestors and relatives of sparrows, ostriches, and
penguins. Not only the skeletal similarities observed between dinosaur fossils and the bones of birds, but also biological lifestyle shared traits and
genetic and molecular evidence support the idea that birds find in dinosaurs their prehistoric roots. It would be difficult to make a case that dinosaurs
were descended from a different source. If in fact the dinosaur–bird connection proves to be true, which is overwhelmingly supported by a variety of
evidence, then technically it means that birds are in fact a type of dinosaur (Which Bird). The turkey you eat for Thanksgiving is classified as a
species of theropod. The next time that you wake up to the chirping of a songbird, or see a chicken, keep in mind that the animal is actually a

Hypotheses On the Origin of Birds Essay
Hypotheses On the Origin of Birds
Since the advent of the theory of evolution the origin of birds has been a thriving topic in science. Many ideas and hypotheses have been presented, but
only two stand today: that birds are descendents of ancient thecodont stem reptiles, and that birds are the direct descendents of a group of dinosaurs
known as the coelurosaurs. Both hypotheses pose many interesting and insightful ideas based on information obtained from the fossil record. There is
not enough evidence at this time to determine which hypothesis, if either, is right. Only more hard work by scientists will tell. Until then we have only
speculation, but speculation based in observed evidence.
The origin of birds is one of the great ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Theropods are a diverse group of bipedal saurischian dinosaurs (see cladogram). They include the largest terrestrial carnivores ever to have walked the
earth. Several characters typify a theropod: hollow bones, three main fingers on the manus (hand), and three main (weight–bearing) toes on the pes
(foot). Most theropods had sharp, recurved teeth useful for tearing flesh, and claws were present on the ends of all of the fingers and toes
(Hutchinson 2000). It is thought that birds are descendents of the group of theropods known as the coelurosaur or maniraptora. (There is debate as to
whether these two groups should be one, so for the sake of this paper, I will refer to them as coelurosaurs.) This group can be typified by such species
as Velociraptor and Deinonychus (Hutchinson 2000).
The other hypothesis is that birds arose much earlier than dinosaurs from a group known to be the ancestors of theropods: the thecodonts (Dingus and
Rowe 1998). Thecodonts were small, agile reptiles with long tails and short forelimbs, thought to include the ancestral stock of all other archosaurs,
including birds, all dinosaurs, pterosaurs (extinct flying reptiles), and crocodilians (Anonymous 2000).
The Theropod Hypothesis
The theropod hypothesis puts the entry of birds into the evolutionary arena after the line of descent had continued from thecodonts to the saurischian
dinosaurs and their subsequent split into

Alborum Plumae Research Paper
Early yesterday morning, a previously undiscovered species was found above the snowline in the Mount Kosciuszko National Park, New South
Wales. The discovery was made by a the well known biologist, Dr. Ella Beard, who upon curiosity of observing the snow fixed abnormally firmly to
tree branches, climbed the tree and discovered these small feathered creatures perfectly disguised as cumulated snow.
The creature, now known scientifically as Alborum Plumae, hides perfectly as snow lumps on tree branches. It is believed to spend the majority of
time in a stationary position, only using its wings for flight from predators.
Many of the Alborum Plumae traits are easily comparable to birds. They has a thick layer of down insulation, allowing them to retain warmth while
sedentary, zygodactyly feet for gripping branches, pneumatic bones to aid in flight, huddling behavior for retaining warmth, and wings for escaping
predators. It is not completely bird–like however, as it has sharp incisors for eating hard nuts found in gum trees in surrounding areas, and has four legs.
It has not yet been confirmed which class this animal belongs to. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In this position, the wings of the Alborum Plumae lower around the curve of the branch to look like snow, and protect their otherwise exposed feet.
When moving, the creatures mainly climb along branches, gripping with their sharp claws. This movement seems to only take place in low visibility.
The only other observed behavior to date is in flight, when threatened directly by predators. In these circumstances, the whole group (known as a
storm) take flight simultaneously and fly to safety. This was only observed by Dr. Ella Beard when she disturbed

Who Needs Netflix? Docos And Cool?
Who needs Netflix? Docos and chill!By Sabrina Delgado I snuggle in for another movie night as the buttery smell of palm oil free popcorn wafts
through the room. But I'm not waiting for the newest blockbuster to load, I'm waiting for an acclaimed documentary that has snagged my interest. No
longer are they stifling classroom videos from the 'golden ages', but intriguing films that are enjoyed by many. Including me. As a twenty–year–old who
can't afford to travel, I have taken a liking to documentaries that allow me be anywhere in the world, even if it's just for an hour or so. Years of Living
Dangerously (2014), produced by James Cameron, Jerry Weintraub and Arnold Schwarzenegger, shows the scary reality of climate change and how the
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Thanks to oceanographer Ben McCartney, I know now that to find the perfect wave one must know the "length, durations and speed of winds
associated with a storm developing over open ocean." Now all you need is a surfboard and bom.gov.au and you're ready to let loose. Not only did I
learn the science behind surfing, but also the life–threatening risk that Visser was putting himself into by attempting to ride a 10–meter wave at the
perilous location of Jaws. The suspenseful non–diegetic sound alerted me to the dangers of the deep as Visser endeavoured in his first deep diving
experience. The enthralling music played with my thoughts as I sat en the edge of my seat, biting my nails. This was truly a moment in surfing history.
In this digital age of likes, comments and snaps, it's extremely easy to lose focus on things that are right in front of you. Although, unlike many people
of my generation, I don't immediately turn my nose up at anything old, dusty or dull. In fact, I share a love for an old but intriguing man by the name
of David Attenborough. In his newest documentary, David Attenborough: Natural History Museum Alive (2014), directed by Dan Smith, the
fascinating facts of both creatures long gone and the museum itself and its development are exposed. With extinct animals brought to life through the
magic of CGI, it felt more like an adventure movie than a documentary. I

Advantages Of Birds
Birds are warm–blooded vertebrate creatures that have wings, quills, a snout, no teeth a skeleton in which numerous bones are combined or are
missing, and a to a great degree proficient, one–way breathing framework (Padian &Chiappe, 1998). Flying winged animals have solid, empty bones
and effective flight muscles. Most winged animals can fly. Birds have an extremely solid heart and an effective method for breathing– these are vital
for flying creatures to fly (Serono & Rao, 1992). Winged animals additionally utilize a great deal of vitality while flying and need to eat a ton of
nourishment to control their flight. The capacity to fly has grown autonomously commonly all through the historical backdrop of the Earth (Padian
&Chiappe, 1998). Birds... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
and Puerta, P.F., 1997. New evidence concerning avian origins from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Nature, 387(6631), pp.390
–392. Ostrom, J.H.,
1976. Archaeopteryx and the origin of birds. Biological Journal of the linnean Society, 8(2), pp.91–182.
Padian, K. and Chiappe, L.M., 1998. The origin and early evolution of birds. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 73(01),
pp.1–42.
Paul, G.S., 2002. Dinosaurs of the air: the evolution and loss of flight in dinosaurs and birds. JHU Press.
Qiang, J., Currie, P.J., Norell, M.A. and Shu–An, J., 1998. Two feathered dinosaurs from northeastern China. Nature, 393(6687), pp.753–761.
Sereno, P.C. and Rao, C., 1992. Early evolution of avian flight and perching: new evidence from the Lower Cretaceous of China. Science,
255(5046), p.845. Wellnhofer, P., 1994. New data on the origin and early evolution of birds. Comptes rendus de l'AcadГ©mie des sciences. SГ©rie 2.
Sciences de la terre et des planГЁtes, 319(3), pp.299–308.
Zhou, Z., 2004. The origin and early evolution of birds: discoveries, disputes, and perspectives from fossil evidence. Naturwissenschaften, 91(10),

Charles Darwin's On The Origin Of Species
I am a member of the Royal Society, I fully support Charles Darwin and his work on gradualism and the idea of natural selection. I have read
Darwin's book On the Origin of Species and have read the work of Hough Falconer who is a paleontologist that found early fossil evidence to
support Darwin's theory. In our world we are surrounded by variation, variation can be seen in habitats, plats, animals, and humans. Their needs to
be variation throughout life so that organisms will be able to survive and reproduce. Through what I have read, I believe that variation is necessary
in order for species to evolve. In society, creationist and scientists debate about how the world came to be. It is questioned if God created the world in
six days or if... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Darwin knew that he had an incomplete fossil record and some gaps in his work. Archaeopteryx was discovered two years after Darwin published
his work. Hough Falconer, a good friend of Darwin's, believes that archaeopteryx is the missing link to Darwin's work. Thomas Huxley a friend
and supporter of Darwin states that "archaeopteryx is a transitional species and one that helped show the connection between birds and reptiles"
(Benchmarks: September 30, 1861: Archaeopteryx is discovered and described, 2011). If Darwin knew about archaeopteryx it would have gave his
theory better support. Darwin claims that organisms evolve from transitional ancestors. We are able to see how this is true in archaeopteryx.
Archaeopteryx is an evolutionary transition which gives us evidence to better understand the evolutionary process. Darwin knew that somehow a
simple species evolves into something more complex. Darwin believed that species share traits from a common ancestor. Archaeopteryx would have
given Darwin a clear idea on how exactly species evolve from ancestors. Archaeopteryx is important scientific evidence that gives us evidence about
evolution, it is an evolutionary stepping stone that shows how species evolve and change over time. Darwin could have benefited greatly if he knew
about archaeopteryx before he wrote his book because it would have given him more support for this theory of natural selection and evolution.

Archaeopteryx: Transition Between Dinosaurs And Birds
A fossil found in the 1860s named Archaeopteryx was a said to be one of the most important finds for evolutionists. Archae is what is now called
as a transitional fossil, and this specific transition is between dinosaurs and birds. Archaeopteryx is indeed classified as a bird, but the
Archaeopteryx has unique features that are not possessed by birds. The Archaeopteryx does not have a bill, its trunk region vertebra is free whereas
in birds it is always fused, and the Archaeopteryx has teeth which no modern day birds have. Some of its more avian features are its opposable hallux
which just means it has a 'big toe' which is a common trait found in birds not dinosaurs, and of course feathers, among other features.
Evidence supporting Creationism
Generally, it has been relatively easy for one to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Scientists almost all agree with Darwinian theory but about 40% of them incorporate a "higher being" in the process and believe that this "being" uses
what we see as 'random processes". Some biologists claim that, "God created the universe and principles of energy and matter, which then guided
subsequent evolution." while another has stated that God did not guide the process, "but did create the conditions that allowed the process to take
place." Theistic evolutionists have claimed that all living things have evolved from one original life form, but that "God" created this original form
thereby directing the process. Progressive creationists explain that over the billions of ages God has intervened once in a while in a major way to
speed–up change, but then allowed Nature to take its own course. But despite the many people who are ambivalent, there are not enough. There will
most likely never be a compromise between creationists and Darwinists but this does not necessarily mean that the two ideas are fundamentally
opposed to one

Horseshoe Crabs
For years, directors have made several movies insinuating what life would be like if dinosaurs were living on Earth today, such as what dinosaurs
would look like and how they would act. Archeologists, paleontologists, and other researchers have proven the existence of dinosaurs. Fossil,
preserved remains, evidence dates back to over 200 million years ago ("Dinosaur"). Each fossil, or remains, gives identifying information about the
creature that once lived. Experts have revealed dinosaurs to be in the reptile category. Nevertheless, not all reptiles are dinosaurs. However, aquatic,
land, and air life in the Paleozoic, Mesozoic eras in which dinosaurs lived and the Cenozoic era, also known as the present time, animals share many
similarities. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The transition started with the Triassic period bringing on animals such as dinosaurs. A familiar animal, the Crocodilians also referred to as
crocodiles first arrived during the Triassic period along with turtles. The most common period throughout the Mesozoic era is the Jurassic. The
Jurassic period is known for movies such as Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, but it is where reptiles began to dominate the world until theCretaceous
period. Crocodiles are closely related to birds. The Archaeopteryx, one of the first birds, contained similar characteristics of nonavian dinosaurs such as
teeth, feathers, an extended vertebral column to form a long tail, and a big brain ("Dinosaurs"). During the Cretaceous period, vegetation flourished,
large reptiles, dinosaurs, began extinction, and accurate birds, seen today, thrived. Both crocodiles and birds live on Earth and are the closest thing to
dinosaurs anyone will

Essay Outline The Evidence For Natural Selection
Outline the evidence for natural selection
Comparative Anatomy
Different organisms that have similar basic structures, but can be used for different purposes are evidence for a common ancestor. These are called
homologous structures. An example is the pentadactyl limb, which is the basic structure found in amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The basic
structure is formed of:
–One bone in the upper limb
–Two bones in the lower limb
–Five fingers of toes In bats, the limb is a wing, and does contain the finger structure, which are extended across the wings and skin stretched over.
Within a whales fin, they possess a fully formed pentadactyl limb.
Analogous structures in organisms are structures in different species that have ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As well as this, certain blood proteins are found in a number of species. When genetic code (DNA and RNA) is used by a cell, it builds amino acids in a
sequence, which forms protein. Chemical tests can determine whether one species has the similar blood proteins to another, thus showing evidence of
evolutionary relationships. Organisms with a common ancestor have a close number of amino acid sequences in common. For example, chimpanzees
and humans have no difference in their amino acid protein count in their haemoglobin – evidence for a common ancestor.
Palaeontology
Fossils provide a record of how organisms have evolved overtime, as they contain the remains of life trapped in sediment, ice or amber and preserved
for over millions of years. Transitional fossils, which provide evidence for evolutionary change, have features that show the transition of characteristics
of organisms from ancestors to descendents. An example is Archaeopteryx, which featured reptilian features, including teeth and skeleton, however,
also had feathers and a wishbone sternum (used to attach muscles for flying). The evidence of the fossil shows the evolutionary transition between
dinosaurs and

Different Types of Ducks
There were many different types of ducks in these locations but there were only a few I was able to recognize: Ruddy ducks– dive for their food Very
easy to spot these ducks because the male has a bright blue bill, the bottom of their head is white and the top is black. The female is not as easy to
recognize but the top of its head is a darker brown whereas the bottom is a lighter brown/ white. Mallard– dabbling These ducks are the most common
ducks found around New York state. They have a yellow bill with a green head and a white band around its neck. Common goldeneye– dive for their
food The reason why this duck is called the goldeneye, is because it actually has gold colored eyes. The male ducks have a shiny green head with a
white circle on its cheek. Its body is black and white. The female, like every there female, does not have as many colors. The head is brown and
like the male, has golden eyes. The body is grey/white. 2. a) Flamingo: Its feet are long, skinny and webbed.They have 4 toes in total, three toes
pointing towards the front and one smaller toe in the back. This is because these birds are almost always in the water and using their webbed feet for
swimming and stirring up food from the bottom. Their beak is hooked shaped, and their lower bill is much thicker than the top. This allows for the
flamingo to be filter feeders, looking for tiny shrimp. Heron: The heron's feet have three long toes, two in the front and one behind to support their
body when

Summary: The Thing With Feathers
Missing Link in the Debate:
Evolution versus Creation
Simon Zhang
October 1st, 2014
Life Science
PrГ©cis
In the essay "The Thing with Feathers" David Quammen discusses the existence and evolution of the missing link between birds and reptiles:
Archaeopteryx. He explains that the Archaeopteryx is one of the first dinosaurs with feathers and the essay suggests that this species was the transitional
stage between reptiles and birds. In the process, Quammen also states two of the major theories that outline how and why the Archaeopteryx might
have developed feathers, as well as how it might have given them an advantage over non–feathered dinosaurs. The aborealists' theory suggests that the
Archaeopteryx developed feathers to glide ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Using clear examples and evidence as well as the evolutionary concepts found in David Quammen's essay it is obvious that the existence and missing
links are clear indicators of evolution. Missing links are species which relate major biological categorizations together, these species show the
emergence of a novel traits though still retaining their old ones. In the case of Archaeopteryx, it still had many dinosaur–like features but had
developed non–dinosaur–like feathers, as a result this species shared similar traits with both dinosaurs and birds. Since birds and the Archaeopteryx
share many of the same characteristics it can be argued that birds evolved from Archaeopteryx which is evidence that modern animals are descended
from extinct species. However, this is only speculation because many other different species evolved feathers over the eons and any one of those
animals could be the predecessor to our modern fowl. Regardless of which animal the modern fowl descended from, be it Archaeopteryx or another
feathered dinosaurs, the evidence still stands that feathers were evolved and passed down the evolutionary tree to modern birds which opposes the
creationist's theory that all animals were created at the same time and that evolution is not occurring. Apart from the Archaeopteryx there

Radiometric Dating Essay
Darwin's theory of evolution was a ground–breaking discovery for the study of life. Although Darwin gets most of the credit for the discovery his
influences Charles Lyell, the father of geology and Erasmus Darwin, a pre–Darwinian evolutionist, made great contributions to the theory. The majority
of the scientific community was quite receptive to Darwin's evolution by natural selection theory because it provided an explanation for many things
that the current origin of life theory, special creation, did not. The scientific community did have some trouble accepting his work because it did not
describe how the evolving genes were transferred from generation to generation which was a very important piece of information that would solidify
his for ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Radiometric dating is a technique that utilizes unstable isotopes of natural elements. Because these unstable isotopes eventually decay at a constant
and singular rate despite any environmental changes such as temperature or moisture changes. The unit used as measurement is a half–life which is the
amount of time it takes 50% of the original isotope to decay into the next isotope or daughter isotope. Basically the amount of half–lives is multiplied
by the length of the half–life to estimate the age of the object being tested. Every element used has a different half–life and that makes each useful for
measuring certain types of material. Some have longer a half–life and thus a longer effective dating range. Potassium–argon dating is useful for dating
material that is extremely old. This method is used by geologists to replace relative ages based on rock formation with absolute ages. The dates found
from the radiometric technique are accurate because the sources, the individual radioactive isotopes, are unchanging and unaffected by environmental
factors. This means that the radiometric data will always be precise unlike relative dating which relies on the theory of uniformitarianism, the theory
that geological history is made up of endless and uniform

Jurassic Era Research Paper
The beginning of the Jurassic brought a new climate. The weather changed from arid, dry, and seasonal to humid, hot, and stable. The weather allowed
for lush jungles to flourish, and with the lush jungles, the dinosaurs. The weather change was due to the supercontinent Pangea breaking apart. Two
new smaller supercontinents were formed, Gondwana and Laurasia. The supercontinents now had more area that was touching the ocean. This meant
the water from the ocean made the supercontinents more humid than before. The dinosaurs thrived in this climate. New species are being discovered to
this day from the Jurassic Period due to the immense diversity amongst them. The species diversity included three main dinosaur groups, the
Sauropods, the Theropods, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The main dinosaurs that died off were Sauropod dinosaurs, long necked, four legged dinosaurs, and stegosauridae, class holding Stegosaurus. Other
species that died include ammonites, similar to the living animals called nautilus, many marine reptiles, and bivalves, relatable to modern mollusca. Not
much is known about this extinction. It is mainly linked to climate change. So far, no connection to volcanic activity or an asteroid has been made.
This extinction gave way to the Cretaceous Period. The Cretaceous Period had a similar climate to the Jurassic, warm. The geography, however, was
changed a drastic amount from the previous period. The Earth had very high sea levels at this time due to the lack of polar ice caps. The supercontinents
Laurasia and Gondwana were breaking apart into the continents that are the same in the present day. Although the continents were the same, they did
not yet look exactly the same. The continents will be further shaped by volcanic activity and tectonic plate activity. The shaping of the modern era was
under way. Many other animals besides dinosaurs lived during the Cretaceous. These animals were very diverse and included pterosaurs, ancient flying
reptiles,

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