Rob  wrote or quoted:

> I have a limited understanding of Evolution (A-Level), so please
> excuse me if my understanding is not correct.  I want to know if there
> is any research that discusses the direction of evolution.  Sure as we
> evolve we adapt to best suit the current environment but that isn't to
> say that evolution is a 'good thing' as it is generally assumed?  Just
> because we evolve, it doesn't mean we become a better species, just
> better able to cope with the current environment?  Is statement true?

My take on the "direction" of natural evolution:

  http://originoflife.net/bright_light/

A brief summary of the direction suggested:

Natural Evoultion has a progressive character - since it constists
of cumulative development of techology that utilises environmental
resources increasingly effectively.

There is inheritance, so that past discoveries are not forgotten - and
continuous experimentation, resulting in a continuous stream of new 
technology - which is useful for turning energy gradients into genes.

In theory, evolution could "go downhill" as well as "progress"
(as happens with meteorite strikes, for example) - however,
the environment represented by the physical laws of the universe
and the initial conditions mean that - in practice - this happens
relatively infrequently - and that on average the overall effect
retains a powerful progressive character.

Individual species can - of course - decline as well as progress.

Hill climbing can result in sinking beneath the waves, if you
are hill-climbing on an island that is sinking into the sea.

It is only evoultion as a whole that is progressive.

Following the fate of an individual species is *much* less likely to show 
a progressive character - since the fate of most species is extinction.
-- 
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