Effects Of Genetic Mutations On Human Evolution - 2063 Words

Alek Petuskey Mrs. Yang Period 5 April 29, 2015 Polycythemia and Lip Augmentations Affect on Human Evolution Mutations and errors in sexual reproduction allow for variation within a population. These variations can eventually lead to the complex process of evolution in a species. The genetically derived mutation Polycythemia and the environmentally derived mutation lip augmentations, affect human evolution in a beneficial and detrimental way. Evolution is change in the aspects of a certain species over a period of time. This is caused by mutations which are variations or differences in the genome. Both genetic and environmental mutations affect the evolution of life in a negative and positive way. Although genetic mutations are heritable some environmental mutations are inheritable because they are not encoded in the genome. Although theories of evolution were published prior, the first person to discover and apply natural selection to evolution was Charles Darwin. Previous scientists such as Lamarck thought evolution occurred b y the passing of acquired traits. Darwin s theory was different because he theorized that evolution occurred with the passing down of heritable traits that were not acquired. Darwin stated that a species â€Å"fitness or ability to survive and reproduce determined if it’s genes were passed on. Organisms within a species with a desirable trait that favored them to survive were more likely to pass on their genes than an organism who didn t haveShow MoreRelatedEssay about Evolution1502 Words   |  7 Pagesto humans, there are many traits that have been selected and adapted for throughout their evolutionary history giving them the characteristics that they have today. In this paper I will discuss some parts of the human body, which have been found to be selected for by the evolutionary mechanisms of natural selection, adaptation and mutation. 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