Evolution by Natural Selection in Action

Over the years, Darwin’s model of evolution by natural selection has gained popularity and massive support from the different communities. It should be noted, however, that not everything is capable of undergoing this process of evolution. To better understand this concept, there are some common answers of people when asked about the things that can evolve: 

1. As evidenced by archaeological findings, homo sapiens has beat out other species, including Neanderthals and apes, among others. Believing that this is an evidence of evolution, however, is inaccurate. Following the three elements required for something to evolve, replication is absent in this particular case. You might counter this by saying that humans replicate themselves by mating and producing children. Again, this is false because parents do not reproduce high-fidelity versions of themselves. The children will inherit certain traits from the mother and the father, but they will never be nearly exact copies of one or the other. 

The correct answer, in this case, is that the human genes evolve. These are the building blocks of human evolution. Genes can replicate themselves over and over—with a small likelihood of undergoing mutation in the process. 

2.Biological evolution is often the foremost example that comes to mind for most people. However, when analyzed carefully, cultural evolution also undergoes natural selection. First proposed by Joseph Henrich, the idea that human culture also evolves following similar patterns as genes do seem implausible. Upon closer examination, however, the three elements of evolution by natural selection are present whenever there is a shift in human culture. 

In terms of replication, humans are natural at mimicking the behaviours of others, even without fully understanding the rationale behind the said action. By studying the ways of the people, they admire or respect, people are able to replicate with high fidelity certain aspects of other people’s behaviours.

Mutation plays a part because even though humans have high levels of skill when it comes to copying others, it is impossible to be perfect at all times. There are also instances where the initial copy is already wrong in some way, so when it gets replicated, the imperfection is passed on to more people. 

The fitness of cultural behaviours is evident because humans only tend to mimic behaviours that they find beneficial or pleasing. Otherwise, the behaviour will eventually die down until no one else would ever remember how to do it and why it was done in the first place. 

Given these, one can argue that cultural practices are evolving by natural selection. A group’s language, rituals, religions, and special tools are all part of the culture, and can, therefore, evolve as they get passed on to the younger generation.