How does Nature decide the purpose of doing a thing in evolution is my question?
Hayagreeva a asked:
Hello, you see Nature has already done a thing long back which we struggle to understand yet. Providing two eyes for 3D vision to avoid obstacles while moving, providing two ears for stereo audio to know the direction of incoming sound do have methods in adjusting particular portions of dna that evolves embryonic stem cells at particular portion of embryo into developing into eyes or ears which are methods of doing it but, how does Nature decide the purpose of doing it is astounding which I really don’t know and, that is my question.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Nature itself is neither sapient nor sentient, so it doesn’t decide to do anything. If you must insist on anthropomorphizing Nature, you could say that Nature throws out every random thing it can think of, until something works, and then it keeps doing that.
In a more accurate, scientific sense, what I’m talking about is evolution via mutation and natural selection. Mutations happen in organisms’ genetic codes all the time. Some of those mutations have no discernable effect. Others cause significant changes in the behavior or appearance of a living thing. Sometimes, those changes provide benefits to the affected organism. Other changes may be detrimental. The beneficial changes result in that organism doing better in its environment. It may obtain a better source of nutrition or become more fertile, for example. Changes that ultimately result in the organism reproducing more effectively will proliferate, because they pass those traits onto their offspring, and their offspring are more numerous. This process is known as natural selection or “survival of the fittest,” and it is the main mechanism of evolution.
May 13th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Your lack of knowledge does not cast doubt on the accuracy of any scientific theory. Just because you cannot understand or comprehend it doesn’t mean it’s incorrect.
I make these accusations not because you’re questioning evolution but because you’re questioning it in a completely absurd and ignorant way.
May 16th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Nature doesn’t “decide the purpose” of anything.
Evolution works on the priniciples of random mutation and natural selection. Mutations which make the organism more likely to reproduce successfully will survive, those that are deleterious tend to die out.
May 17th, 2009 at 7:33 am
It doesn’t decide, seeing as it hasn’t got a brain. Mutations happen. Some are bad, most aren’t particularly good or bad, some are good. The organisms that have most chance of surviving to pass on their genes via reproduction, are from the latter group. The odds are stacked in their favour.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Nature doesn’t decide anything. Nature is not a being, and therefore cannot make decisions. Evolution occurs because of what a particular organism needs to enjoy continued survival in a particular environment. You mentioned the eye, so I will use that as an example. First, organisms had no sight whatsoever until light-sensing cells gathered at the head of the organism. Later, a very primitive eye formed, which then evolved into more useful eyes. And keep in mind, this doesn’t mean that the evolution of the eye, or anything else for that matter, is finished. If you think about it, eagles have a more evolved eyes than humans, who have more evolved eyes than bats, etc. I hope that helped.