PPT 1 on Darwinism

Dawson

Professor at McGill University, founded the Redpath Museum, became rector of McGill, and was the first president of the Royal Society of Canada.

Transitional fossils

Fossils showing intermediate stages between species.

Huxley

Predicted gradual hoof evolution in horses and provided evidence supporting Darwinian evolution through fossil records.

Archaeopteryx

A major transitional fossil discovered in 1861 that shows traits of both dinosaurs and birds.

Lamarckism

The theory suggesting that traits gained during life could be passed to offspring.

Orthogenesis

The idea that evolution follows a fixed direction toward complexity.

Modern Synthesis

A combined theory of evolution incorporating Darwin's natural selection and Mendelian genetics.

Blending Inheritance

The theory that traits blend together in offspring, leading to the average traits over generations.

Saltationism

The theory that evolution occurs through large, sudden mutations instead of gradual change.

Eclipse of Darwinism

A period in the late 19th century when natural selection lost popularity among many scientists.

Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics

The concept that traits acquired during life can be inherited by offspring.

Objections to Natural Selection

Critics questioned the survival utility of certain traits and the presence of traits that seemed harmful.

Oxford Debate of 1860

A famous debate between Samuel Wilberforce and T. H. Huxley regarding Darwin's evolution theory.

Dawson's Criticism of Darwin

Dawson questioned natural selection, claiming it was self-contradictory and impossible to prove.

Kelvin's Argument

Lord Kelvin argued that the Earth was too young for evolution, estimating its age at 30-400 million years old.

Fleeming Jenkins

Criticized Darwin's theory based on the concept of blending inheritance.