The Changes in Finches Beaks

As a result of this observation, he later wrote his theories and ideas about what he thought were the actual origin of species, and which led him to write the publication, The Origin of the Species.

Although perhaps rather considered controversial during his time, it led future scientists and biologists of the modern era to investigate the matter further. Since Charles Darwin's publication of The Origin of the Species, a number of scientists travelled to the Galapagos Island to see the real deal for themselves, and to eventually disprove - or prove - Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection. Unfortunately no one was successful at either proving or disproving the said theory.

However, in the year 1973, Rosemary and Peter Grant set forth to Daphne Major, one of the islands in the Galapagos, to do their own observations and investigations. They were successful at proving Darwin's theory. They camped and stayed in Daphne Major for a few seasons and after just a few months, witnessed for themselves evolution in full action - that is, they observed changes in the size and shape of the beaks of finches found on the island.

These birds are mostly the same size, had the same brownish or black color, rounded tail that tends to get cocked to one side, and wings that are short and noticeably rounded. These were common characteristics of the finches on the island during the time Darwin first set forth in the Galapagos; only their beaks aren't the same. A few exceptions were noticed in coloring, but mostly they were similar when it comes to body shape and form - again, except the beaks.

Changes in the finches' beak shape and size were due to the finches' adaptation to available food. The beak function is for eating, a tool that helps in survival. Each specie as a result of certain fluctuations or changes in food scarcity or abundance has evolved its own unique beak design to better suit their food preference.

Some finches adapted to eating insects, therefore their beaks changed form to make them even more suitable and effective to eating insects. Other finches on the other hand, have adapted heavy and thick beaks that are more effective in cracking bigger nuts and seeds. Other finches began to have pointy beaks, because the pointier the beak the easier it is to pick small seedlings for food.

Later, Harvard Medical School researchers found the molecule responsible for the beak change. This protein molecule, called "calmodulin" regulates the gene that is involved in beak-shaping. Researchers found out that those with longer beaks such as the cactus finches have higher levels of calmodulin than those with shorter beaks. Calmodulin is then associated with longer beaks. Finches with blunt beaks were found to have low levels of calmodulin.