Can Evolution Beat Climate Change?
David Biello
Scientific American
April 15, 2013
Full article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sea-urchin-evolution-to-cope-with-climate-change-ocean-acidification
Topic: Evolution and Climate Change
Summary:
As ocean acidification becomes more extreme and common, sea organisms must either adapt or die. In this case, the purple sea urchin is undergoing rapid evolution in which its genes are changing to combat the insidious threat. A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science on April 8 discovered that exposer to acidified ocean conditions could unleash genetic changes in the purple sea urchins. These changes “may help the animal survive.” Experiments have shown that a population of purple sea urchin contains many with versions of genes better adapted to high CO2 conditions. This is a sign of evolution. As natural selection kicks in, the sea urchins with the better adapted genes will survive and be able to “pass their genes on to the next generation.” Diversity plays a key role in the purple sea urchins’ evolution by allowing “natural forces to pick and choose what survives and thrives.” Unfortunately, not all species will be able to evolve in the extreme climate change.
Reflection:
I chose this article because evolution is an important dynamic of life on Earth. What I found to be extremely interesting is the fact that the purple sea urchins are able to evolve rapidly. Evolution tends to take long periods of time; however, there are many factors that contribute to evolution such as mutation and natural selection. I learned in AP Biology that we are changing the environment too rapidly for organisms to adapt. Not all marine organisms share the same genetic resilience as the purple sea urchins; therefore, evolution in other organisms is still unclear. Even though the purple sea urchins are prevailing in acidified oceans, that doesn’t mean other marine organisms will too. We should take action in preventing excess CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere and ocean.
David Biello
Scientific American
April 15, 2013
Full article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sea-urchin-evolution-to-cope-with-climate-change-ocean-acidification
Topic: Evolution and Climate Change
Summary:
As ocean acidification becomes more extreme and common, sea organisms must either adapt or die. In this case, the purple sea urchin is undergoing rapid evolution in which its genes are changing to combat the insidious threat. A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science on April 8 discovered that exposer to acidified ocean conditions could unleash genetic changes in the purple sea urchins. These changes “may help the animal survive.” Experiments have shown that a population of purple sea urchin contains many with versions of genes better adapted to high CO2 conditions. This is a sign of evolution. As natural selection kicks in, the sea urchins with the better adapted genes will survive and be able to “pass their genes on to the next generation.” Diversity plays a key role in the purple sea urchins’ evolution by allowing “natural forces to pick and choose what survives and thrives.” Unfortunately, not all species will be able to evolve in the extreme climate change.
Reflection:
I chose this article because evolution is an important dynamic of life on Earth. What I found to be extremely interesting is the fact that the purple sea urchins are able to evolve rapidly. Evolution tends to take long periods of time; however, there are many factors that contribute to evolution such as mutation and natural selection. I learned in AP Biology that we are changing the environment too rapidly for organisms to adapt. Not all marine organisms share the same genetic resilience as the purple sea urchins; therefore, evolution in other organisms is still unclear. Even though the purple sea urchins are prevailing in acidified oceans, that doesn’t mean other marine organisms will too. We should take action in preventing excess CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere and ocean.