Evolution and cell theory Discussion

The Cell Theory

The Cell Theory is important because it contributes to the concept of existence. It contends that any living organism is made up of cells and that the cell is the basic functional and structural unit of living things. The cell contains all of the functions that exist within the body. This entails breathing, digesting, and reproducing. The Cell Theory is based on three fundamental tenants. To begin with, living beings are made up of cells. Second, these cells are the basic building blocks of life, and finally, they arise from pre-existing cells. However, the modern interpretation goes a step further to argue that energy flows through the cells and that DNA (heredity information) is passed on from one cell to another. It is through these tenants that scientists have been able to analyze the evolution of not only human beings but also other living organisms on earth.

Natural Selection and Evolution

According to Ken Miller’s lecture, natural selection is the process through which organisms evolve and change over time to survive in their immediate environment. According to him, natural selection selected the species that would fit into a particular condition but those that do not adapt become extinct. However, he notes that evolution does not transform a species into another, rather it splits an existing species into two then natural selection acts on these species separately. To prove this phenomenon, scientists and archeologists have found fossil evidence showing intermediate stages of these evolutions specifically how whales evolved from terrestrial animals and how the human brain evolved. As such, arguing the irreducible differences as evidence against natural selection becomes invalid.