Evolution II

Ok - I think I understand it now. Each species evolves as an improvement over its predecessor. Or, at least, no worse than its predecessor.

Yes, that's it.

So, a predecessor of the cheetah, let's call it cheetah-minus-1, was not as fast a runner. But the fastest of them were better at reproducing, because they caught more prey, got the best food, and generally impressed the girl (or boy) cheetah-minus-1s.

Yes

So over the generations, the cheetah-minus-1 evolved into the faster cheetah that we have today.

That's it, yes.

I think I understand!

Hooray!

So the panda, which is on the verge of extinction because it is so bad at reproducing, evolved from a panda-minus-1, which was just as bad or even worse?

Er, yes.

And the panda-minus-1 evolved from a panda-minus-2, which was just as bad or even worse. And the panda-minus-2 evolved from a panda-minus-3, which was just as bad or even worse. And so on, going back over millions of years to the very start of life on earth, successive species, each just as bad as the panda at reproducing, or actually worse than the panda?

Er . . .

It makes you wonder how they've survived so long, doesn't it.

Evangelical Andy avoids tricky questions

Evolution

Ok - I think I understand it now. Darwin saw very similar finches on neighbouring islands, but each island had different kinds of nut trees, and the finch beaks were adapted for the particular nuts.

Yes, that's it.

So, originally, a load of finches live on one of the islands, and eat the nuts there.

Yes

And at some point, a few of them fly to a neighbouring island, or get blown there in a storm or whatever.

Yes

Their beaks evolve so they can eat the nuts on the new island.

That's right.

So eventually there are two species, very similar, but on adjacent islands and with different beaks.

Yes

I think I understand!

Hooray!

Just one thing.

Yes?

Whilst they were evolving on their new island home, what did they eat?

Er . . .