Kathleen Gabriel

 “Change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift.”  What this means is that as living things reproduce in the ever changing environment, genes mutate to adapt to accommodate for the new tasks the body must perform to survive.

 A naturalist who developed the evolution theory  On a voyage around the waters of South America, Darwin made his first discovery.  He found several fossils of extinct animals and started to ponder how they were similar to the live ones  But it was not until they reached the Galapagos Islands that Darwin made his biggest discovers that gave way to what we know today about evolution.

 Darwin collected many different kinds of birds, or so he thought.  He discovered that all the birds were the same; they were all finches.  Darwin began pondering why the finches would change.  He discovered that the beaks differed depending on what the different birds ate on their separate islands.

 noun (biology) a scientific theory of the origin of species of plants and animals

Fish Salamander Tortoise Chicken Pig Cow Rabbit Human

 Darwin didn’t have the technology we do today allowing us to actually see the DNA.  In the DNA only one chromosome letter different and the bird would be black instead of splotchy.  How does nature keep up with the incredible amounts of types and species?

 “Biology. the act or process of becoming extinct; a coming to an end or dying out: the extinction of a species.” (morbid picture sorry)

 Scientists aren’t entirely sure why extinction happens  Two of the many speculations are:  Human hunting  Changing environment  Neither of these quite explain the sudden disappearance of our friends the dinosaurs though

 As we steadily deteriorate our climate and heat the earth, there may not be much option for the humans.  We need to help the earth by reducing carbon dioxide emission and going green.