EVOLUTION & ENVIRONMENT
The
term ‘Evolution’ means gradual development. In biology, evolution
signifies the process of development of more complicated forms of life form the
earlier and simpler forms. CHANGE IS THE ONLY PERMANENT FEATURE IN THE UNIVERSE. Changes are the essence of life. It is also inevitable consequence
of nature. The earth, in which complex organic life has evolved, began as a
glowing mass of matter that might have separated from the sun. In the beginning
the earth remained unfit to support life, as its temperature was so high.
During the gradual cooling of the earth, earth’s crust was formed. In due
course, earth’s substratum became fit enough to support and promote diversified
organic life. The age of the earth is estimated to be 4.5 billion years.
One of the most
intriguing but essential factors of the universe is LIFE. How did life originate? How so many different forms of life have come into
existence? What happens to livings after the principle of life has left their
body? What is the difference between chemical nature of the body of the living
and the living itself? Are we alone in this vast universe?
One can put as many questions as one can
think of. Both philosophers and the scientists of the past and present are
putting these questions day in and day out. But the answers came in bits and
pieces, with more questions to ask and prove, and with awesome ambiguity.
Neither the religious philosophers nor the rational scientists are satisfied
with their findings. They continue to seek new knowledge to understand life and
the universe it self. Perhaps a day would come when we say that
“The total
number of livings, however small or big, in the universe is constant. When one
living form becomes extinct another living form comes into existence”
just like the Law of Conservation of Mass and
Energy.
One of the most
famous English comics characters DENNIS
the MENACE, shouted to his ripe old friend, " Hey! Mr.WILSON, where
did I come from? "
The question is not just one of a childish prank or new, but a question
every human being has been asking from time immemorial. Where have we come
from? Where do we disappear? Who are we? Are we the body or Are we different
from the body we are in?
Is the egg first or the chick first?
These
questions
force us to believe that there is indeed a
very thin line between Science and
Superstition AND Science and
Religion. Being present in an age of Human organ TRANSPLANTATION; the
answer to such questions become very complex.
Yet! An awareness of the origin of life
similarity and diversity of life forms and its inseparable non - living counterparts are essential for
us to understand the interdependence
of life forms. Diversity of life forms
among the diverse landforms of earth is one of the key factors in determining
the evolution of life. If there are no
diverse landforms; then different habitats cannot exist. If different habitats
don't exist diverse life forms cannot exist.
The fundamental equilibrium maintained by nature through the food web;
food chain and prey predator relationship is the major key to the art of
survival adaptation and subsequent evolution and speciation in plants and
animals alike.
Some of the steps of evolution and their
deductions are given hereunder:
Accepted age of earth 4.5 billion years
The earth, which was a ball of fire, cooled to form a single landmass
(Could this be the
appearance of Maha meru and subsequent life farms? according to Samudra manthan
- an Indian mythology)
(Could this be the time, life terminated in Mars
and Venus and people tried to colonize on earth?)
(Could this be the
legendary Jambhoo Dweepam (island)?)
The initial hot lifeless period of earth was about 3.5
billion years.
The
oldest rock found was about 3.8 billion years
The oldest microfossil found was about 2.6 billion
years.
The rise of Himalayas was roughly about 650 - 1000
million years back.
About 350 million years back India occupied high
latitude and was close to the South Pole
About 75 million
years back India started moving towards north.
The last major face of northern movement of India
occurred 15 million years ago, resulting a further elevation of land.
Prior to 570 million years the biomass consisted only
of bacteria, algae and multicelluar organism
of limited assemblage, diversities and quantity.
About 410 million ago higher plants emerged.
About 35 to 40 million years ago multicelluar animal
life forms evolved.
This deduction give
us an idea of the long history of our planet and also tells us some of the
stories of the past, like the elevation of mountains, are more story telling
for of historical recordings. It is time we give it a scientific out look
and derive the science in it . Perhaps we would have been the first to
understand the formation of universe and the origin of life .
Science and Religion under no
circumstances should be mixed . Both must strive to seek knowledge in their own
special ways
.
CHANGES
THROUGH TIME:
Why were there very large animals and
trees long-long ago such as dinosaurs?
Why the Neanderthal men were larger than what we are now? Why did the ancient stories talked
about giants. Our ancestors systematically worked to make
the life of future generations easy. There is no need for them to lie or pull
fast ones. They would not have talked
about Giants, without it being true?
There has to be some truth in the giant form of life in legends and
fables.
There was a time about 30 million years’
back, the percentage of Oxygen in the atmosphere was about 30%. Analysis of air
samples trapped in amber has revealed the fact.
No wonder we had giant animals with least brain like the DINOSAURS
existing at that time due to the high level of oxygen. Perhaps we can surmise
that the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere contributed to the size of
animals and plants in our biotic environment.
With
photosynthesis and respiration of the livings competing with each other the
percentage of oxygen came down 20.94% to day and the BODY TO BRAIN SIZE RATIO IN
ANIMALS started increasing till we had the modern man.
The body size
decreasing and the brain size increasing , interesting isn’t it!.
THUS WE SEE THAT NATURE ITSELF HAS CONTRIBUTED
TO THE REDUCTION IN THE OXYGEN LEVEL OF EARTH.
Nature
itself increases or changes the number of species OF ANIMALS and plants in the
world AS TIME PROCEEDS.
THE
GREATEST CONTRIBUTION AND HELP WE HAVE DONE TO NATURE! IS TO HASTEN THIS PROCESS.
Thereby we had proved ourselves that we are
smarter than nature.
ANIMAL
EXTINCTION IS A NATURAL PROCESS.
A number of species of animals have become
extinct including some species of tigers.
We are now busy in saving the existing tigers. What we actually do; is to discover ways of giving
employment to our own species the human beings and perhaps DELAY THE PROCESS OF
NATURAL
EXTINCTION.
THE
PRINCIPLE OF NATURAL DEATH
Many an individual envisaged and brought out ingenious products and projects, which were new technologies at the time, they lived. The future generations instead of going into the details of such technologies have failed even to maintain them. Would we say the great monuments such as the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, the architectural beauty of Greece, Rome, Tajmahal and the temples of Southern India are natural phenomenon that should proceed to Natural destruction. Our ancestors have failed to educate us appropriately either to manufacture or construct these marvels or at least the right knowledge to maintain them. Or can we say that our generations have failed to imbibe their traits.
The answer lies
with the adult citizens of today.
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