Biology: Evolution and Charles Darwin

Evolution

• Evolution occurs when an environment changes, and the traits that enhance survival in that environment also gradually change.
• Natural selection is a powerful idea that explains the evolution of life and has become a scientific theory.

Charles Darwin

• Born in England on February 12, 1809, the same birthday as Abraham Lincoln.
• Joined H.M.S. Beagle in 1831, at the age of 22.
• Collected specimens and made observations during the voyage, which helped him develop his theory of evolution.
• Defined evolution as "descent with modification," the idea that species change over time, give rise to new species, and share a common ancestor.
• Proposed natural selection as the mechanism for evolution.

Voyage of the Beagle

• Darwin collected 68 different beetle species in the Brazilian Forest.
• Observed that not all places with the same habitat have the same species.
• Discovered that the shape of giant land tortoises' shells corresponds to different habitats on the Galapagos Islands.

Evolutionary Theories

• James Hutton's Theory of Geological Change: geological forces shaped the Earth, and the Earth's age is more than a few thousand years old.
• Thomas Malthus' Principle of Population: human population will grow faster than the available food supply, leading to wars over resources.
• Charles Lyell's Principle of Geology: past events can be explained by processes that continue in the present.

Charles Lyell and Charles Darwin

• Darwin and Lyell were close friends and discussed their observations with each other.
• Lyell's geological ideas influenced Darwin's understanding of evolution.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

• Proposed the Theory of Use and Disuse, which states that organisms' organs will enhance or shrink depending on their usage.
• Believed that giraffes developed long necks over time through continuous effort to reach tree leaves.

Alfred Wallace

• Developed a similar theory of evolution to Darwin's, but with a more advanced concept.
• Contributed to the development of biology and knowledge.
• Supplied Darwin with birds for his studies and sought Darwin's help in publishing his own ideas on evolution.

Wallace vs. Darwin

• Both were important contributors to biology and knowledge.
• Wallace's theory is more advanced, but Darwin was more influential in making the theory acceptable to the intelligentsia.
• Darwin was born and died affluent, while Wallace was born and died poor.
• Darwin was more educated and had a more prominent social status.

Evolution

• Evolution occurs when an environment changes, and the traits that enhance survival in that environment also gradually change.
• Natural selection is a powerful idea that explains the evolution of life and has become a scientific theory.

Charles Darwin

• Born in England on February 12, 1809, the same birthday as Abraham Lincoln.
• Joined H.M.S. Beagle in 1831, at the age of 22.
• Collected specimens and made observations during the voyage, which helped him develop his theory of evolution.
• Defined evolution as "descent with modification," the idea that species change over time, give rise to new species, and share a common ancestor.
• Proposed natural selection as the mechanism for evolution.

Voyage of the Beagle

• Darwin collected 68 different beetle species in the Brazilian Forest.
• Observed that not all places with the same habitat have the same species.
• Discovered that the shape of giant land tortoises' shells corresponds to different habitats on the Galapagos Islands.

Evolutionary Theories

• James Hutton's Theory of Geological Change: geological forces shaped the Earth, and the Earth's age is more than a few thousand years old.
• Thomas Malthus' Principle of Population: human population will grow faster than the available food supply, leading to wars over resources.
• Charles Lyell's Principle of Geology: past events can be explained by processes that continue in the present.

Charles Lyell and Charles Darwin

• Darwin and Lyell were close friends and discussed their observations with each other.
• Lyell's geological ideas influenced Darwin's understanding of evolution.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

• Proposed the Theory of Use and Disuse, which states that organisms' organs will enhance or shrink depending on their usage.
• Believed that giraffes developed long necks over time through continuous effort to reach tree leaves.

Alfred Wallace

• Developed a similar theory of evolution to Darwin's, but with a more advanced concept.
• Contributed to the development of biology and knowledge.
• Supplied Darwin with birds for his studies and sought Darwin's help in publishing his own ideas on evolution.

Wallace vs. Darwin

• Both were important contributors to biology and knowledge.
• Wallace's theory is more advanced, but Darwin was more influential in making the theory acceptable to the intelligentsia.
• Darwin was born and died affluent, while Wallace was born and died poor.
• Darwin was more educated and had a more prominent social status.

Evolution

• Evolution occurs when an environment changes, and the traits that enhance survival in that environment also gradually change.
• Natural selection is a powerful idea that explains the evolution of life and has become a scientific theory.

Charles Darwin

• Born in England on February 12, 1809, the same birthday as Abraham Lincoln.
• Joined H.M.S. Beagle in 1831, at the age of 22.
• Collected specimens and made observations during the voyage, which helped him develop his theory of evolution.
• Defined evolution as "descent with modification," the idea that species change over time, give rise to new species, and share a common ancestor.
• Proposed natural selection as the mechanism for evolution.

Voyage of the Beagle

• Darwin collected 68 different beetle species in the Brazilian Forest.
• Observed that not all places with the same habitat have the same species.
• Discovered that the shape of giant land tortoises' shells corresponds to different habitats on the Galapagos Islands.

Evolutionary Theories

• James Hutton's Theory of Geological Change: geological forces shaped the Earth, and the Earth's age is more than a few thousand years old.
• Thomas Malthus' Principle of Population: human population will grow faster than the available food supply, leading to wars over resources.
• Charles Lyell's Principle of Geology: past events can be explained by processes that continue in the present.

Charles Lyell and Charles Darwin

• Darwin and Lyell were close friends and discussed their observations with each other.
• Lyell's geological ideas influenced Darwin's understanding of evolution.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

• Proposed the Theory of Use and Disuse, which states that organisms' organs will enhance or shrink depending on their usage.
• Believed that giraffes developed long necks over time through continuous effort to reach tree leaves.

Alfred Wallace

• Developed a similar theory of evolution to Darwin's, but with a more advanced concept.
• Contributed to the development of biology and knowledge.
• Supplied Darwin with birds for his studies and sought Darwin's help in publishing his own ideas on evolution.

Wallace vs. Darwin

• Both were important contributors to biology and knowledge.
• Wallace's theory is more advanced, but Darwin was more influential in making the theory acceptable to the intelligentsia.
• Darwin was born and died affluent, while Wallace was born and died poor.
• Darwin was more educated and had a more prominent social status.