Evolutionists..Why is it that some things evolve and some don't.?

Question

This will likely show how ignorant I am but

I'm wondering why gators, for instance, haven't changed much over millions of years.

And if a species is so adaptable/durable/well suited and if the ice caps are melting then could humans ever become more like gators (hypoth/supposing nothing interferes? )

If the earth continues to support life for millions of years more (with all else progressing at the same rate as now) what is said about what humans might look like?

Answer 1

You need to understand the basics behind evolution, and that should answer your question.

Random mutations in the DNA can be beneficial, harmful, or most likely neither.  If they do have an affect on the organism, if they are advantageous, those with the mutation will be more likely to pass it off to the next generation.  Over time more and more of the population will have this mutation.

It's important to note that any single mutation usually has little affect, and is NOT goal-directed; it is random.  Natural selection is not random, which is why species are so well-adapted to certain places.  Large-scale changes take many years.  I hope this helped.

Answer 2

Read "What Evolution Is" by Ernst Mayr. and ignore the opinions of the uneducated.

Answer 3

Natural selection.

You could ask - why were the dinosaurs wiped out?  Nature selected them for extinction.

Once a thing has reached it's maximum potential there is no need for it to evolve any further.

I think humans have  HUGE amount of evolution left. We are not a very nice species!

Answer 4

Evolution is driven by selection.  Selection is when a gene is increased if beneficial and decreased in frequency if detrimental.  If you are a crocodile or monkey, you are nearly ideal for your particular lifestyle.  Very few changes are beneficial because they are already close to ideally suited for their particular niche.  Those that are beneficial don't radically alter their particular design because the design to be a monkey or a crocodile has specific requirements.

If the monkey grows much larger and spends time on the ground then the selection pressures change the form.  It needs to change its body form to better live on the ground.

Answer 5

Gators havent evolved because the environment hasnt required it. Evolution occurs when the environment changes in such a way as to give one or many traits a reproductive advantage. As for humans becoming more like gators, who knows. Mutations that occur are entirely random and up to chance, so who is to say.

Answer 6

Some things have evolved to their fullest potential and will therefore have no need to change.

Answer 7

Once equilibrium has been met by societal/environmental needs, there is no longer a need for change.

Answer 8

I agree, if there is no need to change, nothing will change.  If the creature is perfectly happy living how they are, unless there are major changes in the polar ice caps or with the weather, then there is no need to change!  Evolution is based on adaptation.

Answer 9

environment, genes, natural disasters, insulation, etc.

Answer 10

if they reach perfection with their environment, there is no need to further evolve.