Evolutionary theory is the framework tying together all of
biology. It explains similarities and differences between
organisms, fossils, biogeography, drug resistance, extreme features
such as the peacock's tail, relative virulence of parasites, and
much more besides. This explanatory framework is useful in a
practical sense. First, a unified theory is easier to learn,
because the facts connect together rather than being so many
isolated bits of trivia. Second, having a theory makes it possible
to see gaps in the theory, suggesting productive areas for new
research.
Practical aspects of evolution include:
Bioinformatics, a multi-billion-dollar industry, consists largely
of the comparison of genetic sequences. Descent with modification
is one of its most basic assumptions.
Diseases and pests evolve resistance to the drugs and pesticides we
use against them. Evolutionary theory is used in the field of
resistance management in both medicine and agriculture.
Evolutionary theory is used to manage fisheries for greater
yields.
Knowledge of the evolution of parasite virulence in human
populations can help guide public health policy.
Evolutionary theory is being applied to and has potential
applications in many other areas, from evaluating the threats of
genetically modified crops to human psychology.
Phylogenetic analysis, which uses the evolutionary principle of
common descent, has proven its usefulness by tracing genes of known
function and comparing how they are related to unknown genes helps
one to predict unknown gene function, which is foundational for
drug discovery.
Phylogenetic analysis is a standard part of epidemiology, since it
allows the identification of disease reservoirs and sometimes the
tracking of step-by-step transmission of disease.
Phylogenetic analysis to track the diversity of a pathogen can be
used to select an appropriate vaccine for a particular
region.
Directed evolution allows the "breeding" of molecules or molecular
pathways to create or enhance products, including enzymes,
pigments, antibiotics, flavors, biopolymers and
bacterial strains to decompose hazardous materials.
Directed evolution can also be used to study the folding and
function of natural enzymes.
The evolutionary principles of natural selection, variation, and
recombination are the basis for genetic algorithms, an engineering
technique that has many practical applications, including aerospace
engineering, architecture, astrophysics, data mining, drug
discovery and design, electrical engineering, finance, geophysics,
materials engineering, military strategy, pattern recognition,
robotics, scheduling, and systems engineering.
Tools developed for evolutionary science have been put to other
uses. For example:
Many statistical techniques, including analysis of variance and
linear regression, were developed by evolutionary biologists,
especially Ronald Fisher and Karl Pearson. These statistical
techniques have much wider application today. The same techniques
of phylogenetic analysis developed for biology can also trace the
history of multiple copies of a manuscript and the history of
languages.
RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISTS WHO REJECT EVOLUTION SHOULD ALSO REJECT
MANY OF THE SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES, TECHNOLOGICAL CONVENIENCES AND
MEDICAL CARE OF MODERN SOCIETY.......ONE WHO REJECTS EVOLUTION BUT
STILL USES ANTIBIOTICS OR MANY OTHER HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS IS
BASICALLY A HYPOCRITE!
