A beginning

My understanding of evolution through a limited amount of reading is,
Species have evolved over time to adapt to their particular environment. And the fittest of the species, suited to that environment are more likely to survive and pass on their genes thus shaping that particular species ensuring a maximum chance of survival. Is this correct?

I think I understand the fitness bit.If a bunch of people were dropped on an island it wouldn't have to be the fittest that survived but rather the survivors would be the ones that could adapt and exploit that particular environment. Correct?

okay, I'm trying to keep as specifically biological as I can! It's kinda like trying to ride a bike for the first time, the main task being to stay on the thing!I mentioned genes in my post. These are the little things that determine what species and appearance we are?
When a pair of one species reproduce the offspring adopt genes from both parents? Like mixing 2 colours, red and yellow for instance makes orange. Though orange is a different colour altogether from red and yellow, in appearance one can tell straight away this colour wasn't made from mixing red and blue!
But let's say red and blue do come along and they have purple offspring. Now let's put the orange and purple offspring into an environment that is predominantly black.
Along comes the great colour eater looking (it has eyes) for it's next meal. Which offspring is the most likely to be eaten and which offspring is most likely to survive?
The surving offspring would be the one that paves the way for future generations.Now, do genes deliberately reproduce traits suitable for an environment because of the environment OR is it just that on occassions it just gets it right? So really the development of a species is by chance?sorry guys, did I fall of the bike??????
ogon

If some genes lay around long enough do they become useless? do they cease to exist?
ogon

So, if I can stop my head spinning a minute and try to think clearly!Would it be true to say thatit isn't that life makes a calculated response to environmentsit is, if you so happen to be suited to a particular environment you survive.If I am getting it right then I can see where a lot of confusion could be coming from. I have always believed that evolutionists were saying life finds itself in all manner of changing environments and so makes changes. Intelligent genes! But really, if I am now seeing it clearly.If I can use what was said earlier as an example. A drop in environmental temperature would find those guys with long hair better suited to the change and in a position to reproduce and pass on their genes. The poor guys with shorter hair don't have genes running around flapping their hands saying, okay let's change guys it's getting colder out there! These shorter haired guys just don't survive. We then end up with a bunch of long haired guys when once there were guys with long and short hair. evolution.If that's right then I have just pulled my first wheelie!
ogonEdited by ogon, : No reason given.

yes analogies can be mis interpreted! As a teacher I get reminded everyday by my students that we all have different learning styles and for me, a picture in my head says more than a thousand words!What has been said so far, and from my constant reading on the subject, I think I have a lot more questions on the way and hopefully you guys will attempt to answer them.
ogon