What caused the greatest increase in diversity of life during the course of evolution?
1 Answer
According to the Neo Darwinian Theory it is random mutations in the DNA.
Explanation:
Gregor Mendel discovered that the Laws of Genetics are conservative. Gene may be recessive and not observed for several generations but the genes persist in the population.
The human genome is estimated to have between 20,000 -30,000 genes. This provides an incredible wealth of possible genetic variations and diversity within the population. However these would all be considered to be human.
Take the case of the Galapagos Finches. Few pioneers have diverged and occupied different niches. This has created a diversity of 13 different types of species of finches/ However the degree of diversity all 13 are still finches and can interbreed.
For Neo Darwinian evolution to create new and novel forms it must relay on mutations. These are defined as random accidental changes in the DNA. These changes must occur by purely natural causes that are undirected. Mutations that create new information instead of destroying useful information are mateamatically improbable to the point of being impossible. But these types of mutations are the only explanation of diversity over the course of Neo Darwinian Evolution.
