What if one species evolve throughout time without interruption?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the hypothetical scenario of a stable planet without mass extinctions or extreme climate changes. The question is raised whether a species on this planet would evolve intelligence or not. The discussion also touches on the factors that contribute to the evolution of intelligence, such as natural selection and the need for survival. The conversation also delves into the relationship between intelligence and social behavior, and the potential impact of technology on evolution.
  • #1
kentsos
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hihi :)

new here...
and hope to disccuss on question that have came up afer watching some documentaries about evalution

hypothetically...if one planet can support and sustain various life
without mass extinction...
the planet is stable without extrame ice age
no 10 million years extrame warm and 100 million years ice cold...

the climate and environmental changes will not drive much effect on species like earth
and species and life can evolve without interruption throughout the planet course
1-2 billions of years...
well they will be wars and killing between species
and extinction will occur ...
natual selection in another form...


will they be intelligent?how intelligent will they be ?
or will life just be so stable that life will not need to be smart ?
what will life be like ?
what will be planet look like ?


hope to hear from u guys :)



thanks :D
 
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  • #2
Obviously it's impossible to speak with absolute authority here, but my guess would be that you'd have one single-cell species dominate sea, then land. At some point, there would be a random mutation that would allow for an advantage for the new mutant, possibly by eating its neighbour...

In short, I think you'd have a planet choked with plants, algae, bacteria and viruses, but with a variety of strategies to consume each other, or compete for essentials such as sunlight on land, and various nutrients in the water. As long as you have random mutation, eventually you should have competition, and boom, away it goes.

Your last questions don't become easier to answer given your initial conditions, I'm sorry to say.
 
  • #3
Do you have a species in mind? Bacterial? Eukaryotic? Archean? You can't have life without bacteria or archea, can't have eukaryotes without both of them, and you probably can't have intelligence without internalized energy production(eukaryotes). So we basicly need one more parameter, what species are you going to start with.
 
  • #4
well..1st sorry to come up with such a general sinario and question

the idea of the question is just to imagine the outcome of one species
i have non in perticular at the time ...
i am not a bio student ?:P
so was just asking in general...
which type of species in our knowledge have the capability
to evolve throughout time ?
is said given enought time any species can change...
maybe my question focus to
if a species give no time limit and no mass extinction and a stable enviroment
will it become or gain intellegent ?
ect Bacterial...is can survive in vitually anywhere any condition
but unlikely to gain intellegent...is it possible over time it will ?
another ect is cephalopod which is said to be smart in comparison,but will it gain a civilization ? or will monkey do ? as human have done?
and if the whole plante is cover with vegetation plants does it means no complex life will evolve?
and maybe only species that is on top of the food chain have the chance to become socially cultual ?
or can adaptive radiation kicks in if the plante is constant ?
and evolution takes another path which the batter is not only survival of the fittest?
 
  • #5
kentsos said:
so was just asking in general...
which type of species in our knowledge have the capability
to evolve throughout time ?
is said given enought time any species can change...
maybe my question focus to
if a species give no time limit and no mass extinction and a stable enviroment
will it become or gain intellegent ?
ect Bacterial...is can survive in vitually anywhere any condition
but unlikely to gain intellegent...is it possible over time it will ?
another ect is cephalopod which is said to be smart in comparison,but will it gain a civilization ? or will monkey do ? as human have done?
and if the whole plante is cover with vegetation plants does it means no complex life will evolve?
and maybe only species that is on top of the food chain have the chance to become socially cultual ?
or can adaptive radiation kicks in if the plante is constant ?
and evolution takes another path which the batter is not only survival of the fittest?

As I see it, you envision an environment that is truly stable and occupied by ONE species.
Will this species evolve intelligence? Possibly, in time, but it is just one possibility out of many.
Consider this though; What if the original species (think humans) is already a sexually reproducing intelligent organism in the stable environment? But then within the intelligent population, the less intelligent organisms are selected and the species evolves to be less intelligent, "simpler". Therefore, the once intelligent species evolves into big brutes that just eat, bounce around, and reproduce (think complex bacteria??). Point being, there is no reason why intelligence should evolve in a species unless the intelligence trait is beneficial to SURVIVAL. If the conditions are so stable that survival is ensured, a consuming less energy might be a reason for smaller simpler brains. The brain uses "a ton" of energy, something like 20% of the bodies oxygen, so it's reasonable to assume the simpler brain would be a beneficial trait.

Humans are intelligent and social because we stand a better chance against the environment as a collective unit. Generally humans are relatively weak compared to many other mammals and reptiles, but with the use of technology and society, like spears, public transportation and computers we are a force to be reckoned with. It definitely helps to be the dominant species on Earth if you plan to create a global network of communication and transportation.
It wouldn't be wise to have Wooly Mammoths trampling our power lines, or napping on the nice warm asphalt of the freeway onramp. Or saber tooth tigers picking off lil'kids at the park. So we Xtincted 'em.
General things for you to look into: natural selection, intelligence, mutations, evolution, populations, ecological niches,

Going off on a tangent, I feel like the evolution of technology could be a very apt analogy for biological evolution. Faster, stronger, better, niches etc.
 
Last edited:

1. What is evolution and how does it occur?

Evolution is the process by which living organisms gradually change and diversify over time. It occurs through natural selection, where individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their genes to the next generation.

2. How long does it take for a species to evolve?

The time it takes for a species to evolve varies greatly and can range from a few generations to millions of years. It depends on factors such as the rate of reproduction, genetic variability, and environmental pressures.

3. Can a species evolve without any interruptions?

No, it is highly unlikely that a species would evolve without any interruptions. Evolution is constantly influenced by changes in the environment, competition, and other factors. These interruptions can either accelerate or slow down the process of evolution.

4. What are the potential outcomes of uninterrupted evolution?

The potential outcomes of uninterrupted evolution include the development of new species, increased diversity within a species, and adaptations that allow a species to thrive in its environment. However, it is important to note that the outcome of evolution is not predetermined and can vary greatly.

5. How does uninterrupted evolution impact the balance of ecosystems?

Uninterrupted evolution can have both positive and negative impacts on the balance of ecosystems. On one hand, it can lead to more diverse and resilient ecosystems. On the other hand, it can also disrupt the balance if one species evolves to become more dominant, causing a decrease in other species and potentially leading to a decline in overall ecosystem health.

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