Myths and Misconceptions
1. The myth I have chosen to focus on is that when discussing evolution, the phrase used in many cases is "survival of the fittest." This myth implies that evolution always means that those who are things such as bigger, stronger, and faster will be favored when it comes to evolution to continue to pass down those traits. This is not always the case when it comes to being favored for evolution. Evolution occurs from reproduction ability rather than survival. Even if an organism can survive successfully in their environment if they are not able to reproduce, it cannot pass any genes. Secondly, evolution is dependent on if the organism is suited for the environment, it lives in. For example, if the organism lives in an area that requires it to be small to hide from predators being bigger will not help it survive to reproduce.
2. I picked this myth because it is one of the first things everyone learns about evolution and natural selection. When you are first introduced to this concept in middle or high school usually the first thing you are taught about is Darwin and survival of the fittest. This can be a very confusing message to understand especially as you grow in your knowledge and realize that this myth does not encompass all of what evolution is.
Hello Maddie! I really liked reading your post! I also thought the term, "survival of the fittest," was the creatures who were the biggest and best in their species. It is interesting that a change in their ecosystem or habitat can change who is the most fit. For example, in a previous article we read they explained that if trees were shorter, the most fit giraffe would be ones with shorter necks rather than longer ones. I loved how simple and informational your post was! I look forward to reading more of your posts!
ReplyDeleteI think at one point in time "survival of the fittest" was a very accurate and impactful statement within the scientific community, but along with many things that circulated within the world for a long time, they lost their meaning. I think it is really great that you highlight how survival of the fittest does pertain to part of it being surviving in the environment but mostly that the organism needs to reproduce. Also, I love your visual example with the comparison of animals that would be considered the strongest and fastest but others that would be overlooked in that respect. Overall, you're doing awesome!!
ReplyDeleteHey, the survival of the fittest theory is fascinating as it plays a big part in nature. Great visual representation!
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