Evolution vs. Theory of Evolution

Evolution – change over timeTheory – origins of organisms

Plato (427-347 BC)

Believed in two worlds:

1.Real World – ideal, perfect

2.Illusionary World – perceived through senses, can see imperfection

No need for evolution b/c everything is perfect

Aristotle (384-322 BC)Student of Plato

Organized ladder or scale of organisms and nature

Each organism had own step

All organisms perfect so no evolution necessary

Ladder never changed

Complex on top

Simple on bottom

George Curvier (1782-1832)

Developed palentology

Study of fossils

Relative Dating

Compared fossils to current organisms

Similarities faded in deeper layers

Theory of Catastrophism: each layer represents an event (drought/flood), fossils were victims, remaining organisms either survived or immigrated

Each layer housed organisms that resembled current organisms

Jean Baptiste LamarckCompared living organisms to fossils

Found similarities

Traced descent

Theory of Use – Disuse:body parts used will become strong while those not being used will disappear

Ex. Long neck giraffes, reaching for food

Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics:Once organism develops these “strengths”, passed on to offspring would be advantageous

Ex. Necks stretched long

Charles Darwin

Explored new regions of Earth along South American coastline

At age 22, selected to be the naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle

Darwin Discovery

Theory of Natural Selection:Mechanism of change over time, adaptation over time

Found in the beaks of finches along Galapogos Islands

Thomas Malthus

Economist

Human Population Bomb

Thomas Malthus

“The human population grows faster than the

Earth. As a result of this large population, we experience death,

starvation, and competition”

Publication “ On the Origin of Species” remains controversial.