Darwin & his theory of evolution

1828: enters Christ College Cambridge > Theology

(1831-36): on "The Beagle" ship around the world

significant for future observations on pigons > variation within species

(1809 -1882)

1839 - married from a wealthy family > perfect environment for his researches

money & time to proceed with his research of nature

change over time

causing differences within species

1707 - Karl Linnaues: classification of living things ("texonomy")

1798 - Malthus: principle of Population & controling it

1858 - Wallace: pushed D. to publish his own writing

Man & apes all descended from a common ancestor, yet not the same

Artificial Selection: deliberate effects on forms of domestical breeds

Natural Selection: survival of those inhabitants/creatures that fit best under the same circumstances

between & within species

(observing pigeons) variation of species by time

Isolation > Principle of Divergence

transmission of advantageous features in new circumstances (mutation)

due to: competition, variation & environmental changes

DNA: same form, different base sequence

Mendel's crossbreeding >> variation by time

Mechanism of Darwinian evolution: Heredity, variation, differencial reproduction

Fossil record:

anatomy; bones of dinasours

found in sedementary rocks

Embryology

suggests similarities between species

Molecules

Study of DNA: similarities in the material, most bases are the same

Genetic variation

Comparative Morphology

Similarities in the structure of certain species & members of the same family

e.g.: dogs & dolphins (mammals)

1842 - The Structure & Distribution of coral reefs

1854 - Baracles

1859 - Origin of Species > criticized because of missunderstood context

1871 - The Descent of Man

1881 - The formation of vegetable mould

Observation: variation of (species) finches during "Beagle" trip

Hypothesis: Variation of species due to natural selection & circumstances

Evidence: reason therefore: isolation, adaptation of finches & genetic variation

Communicating with Wallace & other scientists

D's theory: creation of universe

he focused on the development/changes after creation, not creation itself

Fossilization: incomplete process

Not really: complete enough to keep the theory going & prove it

Evolution: neither observable> nor testable

it is testable; evidence: fossil record, study of living species (e.g. finches), artificial selection

Incompatibility of religion & science (esp. evolution)

No! They don't deny each other

just 2 different topics

"Ladder of Progress"

it's a process of evolving & changes, not a progress

>>humans: not on top of the ladder

no progress, just change

supports the idea of life on earth being a result of several collisions & erosions (changes causing isolation >>differences)

Geological evidence on both (biology & cosmology):

similarities between species that used to live in the certain region

but: as a result of erosions/volcano these animals were separated