The Evolution of Evolution
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Transcript of The Evolution of Evolution
The Evolution of Evolution
Consider… 10:30 pm on December 31: the
first human-like animals emerge Modern-looking humans have only
been around for 100,000 years
Evolution Pre-Darwin
Plato and Aristotle Carolus Linnaeus
(1717-1778)
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829)
Continual adjustment
Ideas were flawed
Lamarck vs. Darwin
Georges Cuvier (1769-1832)
Catastrophism i.e., Noah’s flood
Sir Charles Lyell (1797-1875)
Geological change was slow and continual , not due to catastrophes uniformitarianism
Corresponded with Darwin
Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913)
Reached similar conclusions as Darwin
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
The Voyage of the HMS Beagle1831-1836
Galapagos Islands
The Principles of Natural Selection According to
Darwin1. Variation
The essential underlying feature of evolution Random mutations create a variety of individuals,
some of whom are better suited to the environment
The Principles of Natural Selection According to
Darwin2. Heritability Offspring inherit characteristics
from their parents
The Principles of Natural Selection According to
Darwin3. Differential Reproductive Success “Natural Selection” Those who inherit favorable
characteristics will thrive Those who do not will die out
British Moths and Kettlewell’s Experiment
Directional vs. Normalizing Selection
Directional: adaptation toward an adaptive change i.e., the peppered moth
Normalizing: adaptation against extremes i.e., birth weight
Evolution After Darwin
“Punctuated Equilibrium” Stephen Jay Gould
The mapping of the human genome has changed everything Genetic mutation is
not the only element of change “Switch” Genes