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Understanding Evolution
People continually try to answer the question: Where did everything come from? Its a
basic question everyone has the need to find the answer. The dominant theory on lifes origins in
todays society is known as evolution. The concept begins with the building blocks of life, DNA.
Deoxyribonucleic acid contains all the instructions for what makes you, you. Sometimes a
mutation can occur; they can be harmless, life-threatening, or even useful. Favorable mutations
can slowly spread through a species and can even create a new one. It can happen two different
ways: one by nature, called evolution of natural selection, when it enhances a creatures survival
in their natural environment or by humans, known as artificial selection, when people selectively
choose animals they find useful. Humans can see examples of evolution today. For example, dog
trainers breed new types of dogs all the time. The Anatolian shepherd became officially
recognized as a new breed in 1996 by the American Kennel Club. Even humans have evolved
from common ancestors of a few primates. Still, 42% of Americans have other beliefs for the
creation of humans. Many refuse to have intellectual empathy to look at the evidence provided.
Readers will see the theory of human evolution is solidified by fossil records made by
recreations, DNA similarities between animals, and the influence of the geographical location.
First, scientists have collected many fossils to form a timeline of events which show
human evolution. The record of bones helps researchers to see the progression of human types
and make logical conclusions. The first big discovery starts with the sahelanthropus tchadensis,
which were around almost six to seven million years ago. Scientists have grouped them into the
Ardipithecus branch, which is known to be the closest link to other primates. Almost 2.8 million
years pass before another important milestone in human evolution happens. Found in 1973, Lucy
was an Australopithecus afarensis with a combination of ape and present human features,

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allowing her to be the first to normally walk upright. As a whole the Australopithecine group
lasts up until 2.9 million years ago, and then a new evolved group, homo, comes in. The hominid
have bigger brains and use their intelligence to build tools unlike their ancestors. Modern
humans are a part of the group; to scientists, homo sapiens is the name. Evolutionists are proud
to have put a timeline together, but realize it is only a small sample. Researchers are constantly
finding more information to add to the timeline. Recently, two cavers found a bunch of fossils in
South Africa that they believe are a completely new species scientists call homo naledi. The find
has brought up questions from the general public, but there have always been some queries, even
by the professionals. For example, researchers today are still searching to find the last common
ancestor between humans and chimpanzees. Either way, the basic principles of evolution can be
found between any two of the species in the human fossil records.
Secondly, striking DNA similarities between humans and other animals prove the theory
of human evolution. If humans have evolved from the great apes, then there should be evidence
of it in our DNA, and proof has been found there. Humans are part of the order of Primates along
with baboons, chimpanzees, lemurs, orangutans, and the list goes on and on. Scientists have
found homo sapiens have close genetic codes to many of them. An almost identical DNA shows
evidence of being like them once, meaning a possibility of having a common ancestor before a
mutation occurred. Scientists have also collected DNA evidence of plants and other animals to
see how closely or distantly related humans are to them. It was found people are 85% similar to
mice, 75% similar to chickens, and 60% percent similar to banana trees. Homo sapiens are
connected to life in ways they didnt even imagine. It proves the evolutionist belief where
everything is linked together like a massive tree. Overall, evidence verifying the fact that humans

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have evolved through deoxyribonucleic acid exists. In fact, human evolution would probably
appear fraudulent, if there wasnt any connection between humans and primates in their DNA.
Lastly, human evolution is explained through the impact geography wouldve had on
humans. Depending on the location around the world, people can live in hot, cold, or seasonal
places. For early humans, it can affect the development of the body and the mind because each
would have had different challenges, dependent on where they lived, to overcome. How hard life
was would increase the brain size and also promote tool making as humans tried to make life
easier. Eventually, there would be evolutionary changes to humans to help their survival rate, but
it would take much time. When the human bodies finally adapted, humans living in the cold
climate adjusted by evolving so their bodies were short and broad. The change helped to keep the
body temperature warm. On the other hand, humans in warm environments had narrow and lean
bodies. The slenderness and bone structure would keep the temperature cool. Therefore, human
evolution is substantiated as the geography wouldve caused humans to evolve and adapt through
brain or body size.
In conclusion, human evolution is promoted by fossil timelines, DNA likenesses, and
geographical effects. Evolution as the theory on human origins has much evidence going for it;
some includes skeletons and bones found from millions of years ago, adaptions which are
explained perfectly through evolution, and human DNA which is extremely similar to other
primates. Additionally, it fits in with the laws of nature, unlike some other beliefs, making it
science. At times, it might be hard for some to see how others could possibly believe differently.
Truly, anyone could forget intellectual humility and begin to think their theory is the best.
Nonetheless, people have been reminded to not let arguments divide each other. We need to

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listen to each other and take care of each other because theres only one habitable place: the pale
blue dot.

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Works Cited
Biologos. What is Evolution? Biologos. Biologos, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.
Drake, Nadia. Human Evolution 101. National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 11
Sept. 2015. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.
Hall of Human Origins. Smithsonian Natural History Museum. 10th St. & Constitution Ave.
NW, Washington, DC 20560. 28 September 2015.
Newport, Frank. In U.S., 42% Believe Creationist View of Human Origins. Gallup.com.
Gallup, 2 June 2014. Web. 07 Oct. 2015.
Shreeve, Jamie. This Face Changes the Human Story. But How? National Geographic.
National Geographic Society, 10 Sept. 2015. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.
"Some of the Things that Molecules Do." Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. Fox. March 16, 2014.
Television.