SC 235 M1 Competency Assessment: Natural Selection

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SC 235 M1 Competency Assessment: Natural Selection

Student Name

Purdue Global University

SC235M1

Prof. Name

Submission Date

Natural Selection

Natural selection is a basic process of evolution that refers to a process through which individuals in a population have a higher chance of reproducing and therefore passing on their genetic features to their offspring. Eventually, such changes may result in improvements in an organism’s fitness to the environment and produce offspring. Thus, freediving is of great use for the Bajau people for several reasons (Ilardo et al., 2018). Freediving is a technique used by sea nomads in their daily chores of fishing for food and other sea products like shellfish and sea cucumber. It makes the Bajau a selective benefit because they are assured of food supply in a marine-oriented way of life.

The Role of Spleen Size

Scientists assessed spleen size because it is one of the most important components of the mammalian dive response. The spleen stores oxygen-rich red blood cells that are circulated back into the body during diving to increase oxygen delivery and therefore time duration in water (Schagatay et al., 2020). The researchers compared Bajau men and women with the Saluan, their neighboring Ethnic group; and established that the Bajau men and women have larger spleens even those who do not freely live frequently (Ilardo et al., 2018). These findings indicate that larger spleens are not merely due to training but are most probably a genetic advantage for the Bajau’s freediving.

Supporting the Hypothesis

The results provide evidence for the suggestion that the Bajau’s freediving capability is a consequence of natural selection. The observed larger spleens in all the members of the Bajau community shows that the trait has evolved as it confers some advantage in the survival of the group. A more specific testable hypothesis could be: “According to the scientists, the larger spleen size in the Bajau enables them to store more oxygen leading to better survival and reproduction among those with such a body feature” (Elia et al., 2021).

Part II: Physical Evidence of Evolution

An example of physical evidence of evolution as described in textbooks is the existence of analogous structures. These are the physical structures that are present in the organisms belonging to the same group of a family tree, even if they have other functions. For example, the forelimbs of all mammals, have the same bone structure but are used in different ways, the wings of the bat and the flippers of the whale (Castro-Alonso et al., 2024). It is an example of how two species evolve from a common ancestor through the process of natural selection and how this affects the structure of the organism.

Part III: Properties of Living Organisms

To tell whether an unknown object is a living organism some characteristics have to be checked. Living things exhibit the following traits:

• Organization: They are composed of cells and the cell is the smallest structural unit of life.
• Metabolism: These are living and perform chemical procedures to exist.
• Growth and Development: These are living things that are capable of growth and development as they grow.
• Reproduction: It reproduces in two ways; sexually or asexually to form offspring.
• Response to Stimuli: They are sensitive to the changes in the environment that surround them.
• Homeostasis: It also pointed out that they have a stable internal environment.
• Adaptation: They change over the years by the process of natural selection (Konieczny et al., 2023).

Some of the criteria that I would use to determine whether an object is biotic include the presence of cells, metabolic activities, growth, and reproduction. For example, examination under the microscope could show cellular organization, while testing its ability to respond and its metabolism would be evident (Konieczny et al., 2023).

Part IV: Human Adaptations

Cultural and Biological Developments

In my region, one of the human biological adaptations is the Thermoregulation which includes sweating and vasodilation to avoid heat. This adaptation helps people to exist in hot weather conditions (Cramer et al., 2022). Cultural adaptation includes the utilization of air conditioners and light dressed to cope with the high temperatures to feel comfortable and work.

Cultural Issues of Staying with the Bajau

Being with the Bajau would be a cultural shock, for instance, they live in a marine culture where one has to be a good freediver and sea navigator. Language differences and cultural differences in society would provide another challenge. As a result of these challenges, one would have to learn the Bajau language and its cultural norms and customs, spend time with the Bajau people, and foster good relations with them (Ilardo et al., 2018). This would reduce the cultural shock that are bound to face as they join the community and make them feel wanted.

Conclusion

This analysis shows how human evolution and survival are intertwined with biological and cultural factors of our existence. The Bajau’s freediving skills show that natural selection plays a part in modifying the human body, and the Bajau and other human cultures and biology show the versatility of the human species. By exploring these factors, we can further our knowledge of the processes that control evolution and the ways by which people can adapt to the world.