7.1 - history of evolutionary theory

evolution

change over time

biological evolution complex and still being researched

theory

scientific model that explains observed facts

cycle of scientific enterprise

refines theories over time

variation

individuals within a pop differ in traits

mutation

DNA changes and creates new traits

overpop.

more organisms are born than can survive

competition

organisms compete for resources

natural selection

favorable traits become more common

evolutionary theory

explanations for how traits change over time

darwins theory

all life descended by a common ancestor via natty selection

aristotle (pre-1700)

animals and teleology (purpose in nature)

plato (pre-1700)

believed species had fixed, eternal patterns (immutability)

darwin’s book

1859

james Ussher (1654)

calculated earth’s creation at 4004 BC

carolus Linnaeus (1735)

binomial nomenclature: god created species recently and unchangingly

georges cuvier (early 1800)

studied fossils and found species went extinct

catastrophism sudden disasters caused extinctions

jean-baptiste Lamarck

transmutation of species

use and disuse

adaptive force

Lamarckian inheritance

transmutation of species

species change over time

use and disuse

traits develop through use and are inherited

adaptive force

organisms move towards complexity

lamarckian inheritance

reemerged with epigenetics

sir Charles Lyell (1830-1833)

uniformitarianism earth changes gradually over time

contrasted cuvier

supported vast earth age

thomas malthus

overpop leads to competition for resources

influenced darwin’s ideas for natural selection