Evolution.
I find that contemplating the twists of evolution is a maze of mystery and wonders. One can not imagine evolution without thinking about the development and progression of animals and creatures, and to question why things have turned out in the way that they have done?
When looking at present day life, who would ever have imagined the humble banana shares fifty per cent of DNA with humans. That particular thought continues back to plants and animals, they all share a common ancestor. What came before that ancestor? The metamorphoses of life in the form of pre DNA cell formation from non-living substances. Before that, the evolution of stars and galaxies, that make up the periodic table of atoms, ultimately an infinitesimally small burst of hot energy that is inflating at an increasing rate. Did anything come before that? Yes, Knowing exactly what it was is still to be established, although there are plenty of ideas about it.
Present day humanity is a puzzle. When looking back at the history of humans, instead of just sharing maybe a small part of its DNA with Neanderthal beings, one suggestion is that the whole of all living people should actually be Neanderthals. Why is this? Well, as a population the strongest, fittest, as well as largest brains belonged to the Neanderthals and on paper it would have been in no doubt as to how well they could have done in the evolution competition that is also known as life. Evolution has many variables and for that reason it is unpredictable, although like a stream humans can make a guess of its course but never forget, the unexpected can and will happen.
Life travels in one direction, that is unless you are the immortal jellyfish, which has the ability for rebirth of itself. There are so many things in the natural world that are contrary to the expected. If you are male, bearing young is often for many species, not in the job description category. But spare a thought for the male seahorse, an animal that does indeed do that. Even when it comes to knowing what sex you are some fish, when nature demands it, will change gender. There are also organisms that infect a host and can go on to change its sex.
What happens when part of the body is lost or damaged? The consequences for some creatures, is to just regrow the damaged part or limb and in some cases even physically develop an extra head.
Birds do not normally have teeth yet at one time some did and they still posses in their DNA the dormant gene for teeth. At the time of the dinosaurs an outstanding creature called the archaeopteryx possessed scales and feathers, teeth in its beak and claws on its wings. A cross between a reptile and bird, it was more equipped for climbing than flying.
The platypus, mudskipper, sea slug, and euglena flagellum are living organisms that encompass the missing links of evolution. The euglena flagellum bridges the two worlds of plant and animal by gaining energy from sunlight and feeding on other organic material. Some animals are plant eating but also some plants are carnivorous and are natural traps for the unsuspecting creature that comes their way.
Evolution has the ability to be very, very slow or amazingly fast. Apart from gene variation in DNA there are outside forces that can initiate adaption and change in the path of evolution. That is why it is such an awe-inspiring, always interesting field of exploration.
When looking at present day life, who would ever have imagined the humble banana shares fifty per cent of DNA with humans. That particular thought continues back to plants and animals, they all share a common ancestor. What came before that ancestor? The metamorphoses of life in the form of pre DNA cell formation from non-living substances. Before that, the evolution of stars and galaxies, that make up the periodic table of atoms, ultimately an infinitesimally small burst of hot energy that is inflating at an increasing rate. Did anything come before that? Yes, Knowing exactly what it was is still to be established, although there are plenty of ideas about it.
Present day humanity is a puzzle. When looking back at the history of humans, instead of just sharing maybe a small part of its DNA with Neanderthal beings, one suggestion is that the whole of all living people should actually be Neanderthals. Why is this? Well, as a population the strongest, fittest, as well as largest brains belonged to the Neanderthals and on paper it would have been in no doubt as to how well they could have done in the evolution competition that is also known as life. Evolution has many variables and for that reason it is unpredictable, although like a stream humans can make a guess of its course but never forget, the unexpected can and will happen.
Life travels in one direction, that is unless you are the immortal jellyfish, which has the ability for rebirth of itself. There are so many things in the natural world that are contrary to the expected. If you are male, bearing young is often for many species, not in the job description category. But spare a thought for the male seahorse, an animal that does indeed do that. Even when it comes to knowing what sex you are some fish, when nature demands it, will change gender. There are also organisms that infect a host and can go on to change its sex.
What happens when part of the body is lost or damaged? The consequences for some creatures, is to just regrow the damaged part or limb and in some cases even physically develop an extra head.
Birds do not normally have teeth yet at one time some did and they still posses in their DNA the dormant gene for teeth. At the time of the dinosaurs an outstanding creature called the archaeopteryx possessed scales and feathers, teeth in its beak and claws on its wings. A cross between a reptile and bird, it was more equipped for climbing than flying.
The platypus, mudskipper, sea slug, and euglena flagellum are living organisms that encompass the missing links of evolution. The euglena flagellum bridges the two worlds of plant and animal by gaining energy from sunlight and feeding on other organic material. Some animals are plant eating but also some plants are carnivorous and are natural traps for the unsuspecting creature that comes their way.
Evolution has the ability to be very, very slow or amazingly fast. Apart from gene variation in DNA there are outside forces that can initiate adaption and change in the path of evolution. That is why it is such an awe-inspiring, always interesting field of exploration.
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