Go to the following link, explore the site and then click on the link to read the whole article.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0411/feature1/
After reading the article, I'd like you to write a two paragraph response. Please consider the following questions when formulating a response:
1. What part of the article did you find most fascinating? Most surprising/shocking?
2. Overall thoughts after reading the article?
3. Did you disagree with anything? Why or why not?
4. Have your views of evolution changed after reading this article and/or discussing evolution in class? In other words, did you initially have some misconceptions about evolution? What were they and how has your own thinking "evolved?"
Article response - due Thursday by midnight (2/3)
Blog response - due Monday by midnight (2/7)
12 comments:
First off, that article was way too long; it was alright, though. What I found most interesting about the article is that the HIV is one of the fastest evolving viruses. Not only that but each case within a person becomes unique in the way it changes and adapts to the individual. I’d already known a bit about how viruses were fought off, but it’s nice to further your understanding of things. According to the author, we are the dominant evolutionary forces, which I find to be surprising only because I didn’t know about it; easy to comprehend it is, if you understand the process of evolution and natural selection.
My overall thoughts after reading the article are that too many people will jump to the conclusion that something isn’t true just because it opposes their tradition or beliefs. I don’t disagree with religion, but I’m also not much a religious guru myself. I won’t find that I’m treading on that topic, though. Other than that, the article was somewhat a review for me. (Old Bio textbooks mention a lot of it). I didn’t find anything that I disagreed with in the article because I’m a firm believer in the theory of evolution. I believe more in the things that you can see and touch. With that said, I don’t deny the beliefs of religious peoples, but my view on the theory of evolution remains the same.
I agree with Chris when he said it was a bit long but not a bad read. It fascinated me when I read how much Darwin backed his theory. He went into so much depth, it said about how he supported his theory through paleontology, morphology,biogeography and embryology. Even though it's been proven by him as well as scientists today, through genetics, people still don't believe it. It shocks me that almost 50% of the population still don't believe in any sort of evolution what's so ever. Darwin spent a majority of his life proving his theory, he wrote a 490 page book on why it is a real thing yet we still have people who don't believe, it is just unbelievable.
After reading this article I must say it was rather good, little lengthy but good. People should broaden their minds and at least learn more about things they may not understand. We talked about some of it in class so I was able to relate to it. I don't think I really disagree with anything, I believe that things evolve over time and I believe that our man Darwin was right. Before coming to bio 2 I believed in evolution so my view on it really didn't change. I never knew how much there was to back it up, so if anything all that I learned from this article and from class is that my prior assumptions were true.
I found most shocking was the different types of whale the paleontologist encountered. All of the whales had different features on them. Some might have been able to walk and swim. It is shocking to know that whales might have needed legs to survive millions of years ago. I thought the article was very interesting. I did not get bored reading it. The article presented a lot of facts about evolution from the past and the future. It kept me intrigued, even though it was so long.
However, I am a little skeptical about the survey they conducted about evolution. They did not provide some of the questions the people were asked. Did they ask them out front about evolution? Or did they ask questions and assume an answer? I do not like the way they provided enough information about the survey. At first, I did not really understand evolution. I have always heard adults talking about how we are derived from apes and I believed it. I know now that we are not derived from apes. Also, I am now more accepting of evolution because of the evidence provided. I did not really care about evolution, at first, because I thought it was stupid. Now, I believe evolution is interesting and would like to know more about it.
The most fascinating thing in this article is that people found fossils of whales in Egypt and Pakistan. Also this whale that they found has legs and webbed feet, which tells us that they once walked on earth. My overall thoughts about this article was that you maybe come from a spiritual background, but knowing the facts and the idea that Darwin’s theory lasted the test of time, changed my mind about evolution. I didn’t disagree with anything because there is a lot of evidence behind his theory. I initially thought the humans came directly from chimpanzees, but now I found out that we came from many different species that evolved over time.
What interested me most was the area about embryology. I just find it interesting that embryos are similar to one another even though they belong to diffrent creatures. I was startled by the number of people who dissmissed the idea of evolution having anything to do with shaping us. However since the poll was taken in 2001 I am interested to know what people think of evolution currently. My views on evolution remain the same. In the way that it's what formed all the living things today and makes life interesting.
First of all I have to say that this was a really long article but you can't say that it wasn't interesting, because it gives you facts like almost half of the United States population doesn't belive in Darwin's theory. I never really believed in it, but never said it was wrong. After reading this, I kind of believe in evolution without losing my religious faith. We are definetly different than the first man on earth and that is a sign of evolution. No matter how many people disagree with Darwin, we can never say that he was wrong. All the research he did and all the pages he wrote can not be wrong and it is been proofen that the human body is now different than it was hundreds of years before.
Christopher: I agree with most of your response to the article. I like the examples you used because I found them surprising as well. However, I found it different that you thought it was alright because I found it interesting. Also, the fact that you knew a lot of examples means you know a lot which I did not know.
Aaron: I agree with what Aaron said about people not believe in evolution was shocking. Also, the fact that there is so much evidence to back up his theory is interesting. I, as well as Aaron, believe that people should open their minds to different things. Just because it is different from your traditional believes, does not mean it cannot happen.
Colleen: I agree with Colleen, knowing that whales might have walked on Earth is different. Also, I do believe in God. Knowing all this evidence about evolution is making me start to think more about evolution. I to initially thought humans came from chimpanzees. It is nice to know someone else thought that as well.
Cedrick: I never thought about the year of which the survey was taken. It really would be interesting to know if people still think that way about evolution. The embryos are also interesting. To think we look like other animals as embryos is kind of creepy.
Cem: I agree with Cem. I also have never really thought about evolution. However, you cannot ignore the facts presented. I think if more people would read the facts, they would start to think about it more.
Brittany, I'd have to say that I agree with your saying that it's surprising whales may've had legs long before. You and Cedrick both brought up really good points about the survey. I hadn't thought about it at first, but now I'm kind of curious to know whether peoples' beliefs have been influenced, or what questions were asked in the first place. Unless I'm recalling this incorrectly, I think that the Bio I textbooks had pictures of what scientists assumed the whale's ancestor(s) looked like; I wanna say one looked like a very large cat, resembling that of a lion with color variations. I haven't read it in a while, though I'm sure the Ambulocetus is a predecessor.
I agree with what Colleen and Brittany said about the whales, it is crazy to think that at one time whales walked on land. I also agree with Brittany and Cem when they talked about the poll, I'd like to know more about what type of survey they took, and how not that many people even believe in evolution. With so much evidence that supports it like embryology, which I liked in Cedricks blog and I also found it fascinating how so many things look so closely related as a growing embryo. I also agree with Chris when he said about how people are so quick to come to conclusions with out thinking. Overall I agree with what everyone said and enjoyed the article. 陳舊當也罷隘門 oriental talk.
I think I agree with everyone when they say that this article was way too long. I agree with Chris, that HIV is one of the fastest evolving viruses. Also it's amazing how HIV adapts so quickly. I also agree with Chris because it is true that people are fast to judge Darwin's theory just because it's against their Religion. Also I agree with Aaron when he talked about almost 50% of people do not believe in Darwin's theory. Really Aaron Oriental talk? Anyway, Brittany I agree with u when you said that you are skeptical about the survey they conducted.
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