History of Life

Home Work Assignment #1

1.  A theory is the culmination of evidence that is supported by an idea but has yet to be proven as a fact or demonstrated.   A theory is valid as long as there is no evidence to dispute it.   Also a theory is known to be an accepted hypothesis.   A belief is a firmly held opinion regardless of what evidence or any form of support has been shown.  A great example of a theory is the “continental drift”.  This theory is confirmed by the research of plate tectonics which causes the earths plates to slide over time and is also supported by the information that continents fit together well when looking at a map of earth.  An example of a belief is that someone feels that there are aliens that live on mars.  There is not any evidence that shows they don’t but someone can have the belief that they do.  There could be evidence that nothing living is on that planet but someone would still have that belief.

1. No, it’s not possible to know certainly due to the fact that we can not go back in time 6 billion years.  

1. I personally have a positive thought about the theory of evolution.  My previous exposure to the theory of evolution has been in science classes in the past mainly.  I feel that it’s very accurate that we started from a molecule and became living mammals that we are today.  

1. The most interesting thing in the history of life that I find most interesting but at the same time most misunderstood is the life of dinosaurs on this earth.  The reason I find it least understood is due to the fact that there has been several different theories why they became extinct but nothing proven.  I would love to learn much more about this seeing how I find it very interesting.