Evolution and Humans Essay

Evolution is the transformation of the genetic material of an organism from one generation to the next where it is formally defined as the â€Å"change in the form and behavior of organisms between generations† (Ridley, 2004, p. 4). Humans are believed to have evolved into Homo sapiens from other species such as apes and placental mammals, thus making them related to all species of life on Earth. However, the social, intellectual, physical and emotional strengths of humans separate them from other species on Earth. Just like higher order animals, the social skills and the behavior of humans are driven by instinct, and proper behavior can result from training. However, nature designed the behavior of humans to shift from being instinctive to one that would focus on survivability. There is no other species of animals as advanced as the intellectual and emotional understanding of humans. Although intellect has developed in other animals, the intellect of humans is based on self-control and self-discipline. Their emotional understanding is also well-advanced that humans are the only species to be able to fully communicate with others. Humans also show high-level of emotional cognition, as compared to other animals which only express basic emotions elicited by conditioned stimuli such as hunger, aggression and sex. Humans recognize that all life on earth is interrelated. Although humans are unique, they survive because of this interrelationship with other species. This symbiotic relationship with other species is one reason why humans are obliged to protect other living species, as well as the environment which they live in. Humans recognize that this uniqueness also gives them the responsibility to assure that life on earth will continue as long as humans exist. Reference Ridley, M. (2004). Evolution. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell.