AP BIO Key Figures and Concepts in Evolutionary Theory

Carolus Linnaeus (1735)

Founder of Taxonomy: the classification and naming of organisms. Developed genus and species classification

Used morphological similarities to group organisms

Believed these patterns reflected creation, not evolution

James Hutton (1795)

Proposed Gradualism: slow, continuous processes shape Earth's landscape. Observed valley formation, soil formation, and sediment accumulation

Suggested Earth was much older than previously thought

Georges Cuvier (Late 1700s - Early 1800s)

Studied fossils in sedimentary rock layers. Developed Catastrophism: boundaries between rock layers represent catastrophes

Noticed older fossils were increasingly different from current life forms

Thomas Malthus (1798-1826)

Proposed populations grow faster than resources. Proposed populations grow faster than resources

Predicted war, famine, and disease would limit human population growth

Concept of struggle for existence influenced Darwin

Charles Lyell (1830s)

Proposed Uniformitarianism: the same natural processes operate today as in the past. Argued that geological change is slow and continuous

Supported idea that Earth was much older than 6,000 years

Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck (1809)

Use and Disuse Theory: organs used grow stronger, unused organs deteriorate. Inheritance of Acquired Traits: changes during an organism's life are passed to offspring (incorrect theory)

First to propose species change over time, but his mechanism was incorrect

Alfred Russel Wallace (1855-1858)

Independently discovered natural selection. Independently discovered natural selection

Sent Darwin a letter outlining his ideas in 1858

Co-authored a scientific paper with Darwin, but Darwin's 1859 book became more famous

Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

Naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle (1831-1836). Collected plants, animals, fossils (especially in the Galápagos Islands)

Observed finches with different beak shapes adapted to food sources

Published On the Origin of Species (1859), describing natural selection

Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection

Variation in traits (e.g., some beetles are green, some are brown). Differential survival and reproduction (some traits help survival more)

Inheritance (successful traits are passed down)

Population changes over time (advantageous traits become more common)

Natural Selection vs. Artificial Selection

Natural Selection: Nature selects traits that help survival and reproduction. Artificial Selection: Humans breed for desirable traits (e.g., crops, livestock, dogs)

Darwin tested artificial selection with pigeons and plants