In four pages this paper argues that the evolutionary theory still has relevance in the problems of the contemporary world most notably the ways in which some bacterial species are now resisting antibiotics. Six sources are cited in the bibliography.
Name of Research Paper File: AM2_PPbactEv.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Evolution is too often viewed in the abstract, too often considered inextractible from the world of theory and conjecture. Few recognize the importance
of evolutionary concepts to our everyday lives. Evolutionary theory, however, most definitely applies to our lives. Evolutionary theory can, in fact, have direct application in identifying solutions for
a number of real world problems. Futuyma (1998) emphasizes this use in applications as diverse as ensuring biodiversity and conservation among species of special concern and the production of
novel processes and concerns such as antibiotics or even organisms used in bioremediation for the decomposition of hazardous waste products. One example of a problem in which our understanding
of evolution comes into play is the tendency we are currently observing for bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics over time (Futuyma, 1998). Futuyma (1998) contends that the reasons
for this ability are rooted in the evolutionary paths of bacterial organisms. Hillis (1999) follows up this contention with his own that the evolutionary paths of organisms can be
used to predict future manifestations and characteristics. As a result of their evolutionary history, bacteria are prokaryotic organisms. This translates to mean
that their cellular nuclei lack a nuclear membrane. Consequently, even though the cell as a whole is contained within the external membrane wall which is referred to as the
cytoplasmic membrane, the genetic material within the cell is free to mingle with the rest of the material which composes the organism. This, coupled with the fact, that the
cytoplasmic membrane is by nature selectively permeable means that this nuclear material can easily be exchanged between independent organisms. Even such traits as resistance to antibiotics can be passed