history of natural theology
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History of Natural Theology. Classical Greek philosophers had ideas about the natural evolution of life Plato (427-347 B.C.) believed there were two worlds. A real world which was perfect and an illusionary world that was imperfect. He did not believe in evolution. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
History of Natural TheologyClassical Greek philosophers had ideas
about the natural evolution of lifePlato (427-347 B.C.) believed there were
two worlds. A real world which was perfect and an illusionary world that was imperfect.
He did not believe in evolution.His student Aristotle (384 -322 B.C.)
believed that all forms could be arranged on a ladder or scale called the “scala naturae” Each form of life had an allotted rung on the ladder.
Belief prevailed for 200 years.
Carolus Linnaeus(1707- 1778)Father of taxonomy.Taxonomy is the branch of biology concerned
with naming and classifying organisms.Came up with Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order,
Genus, Species.However he believed there was no
evolutionary kinship between them.
Georges Cuvier(1769-1832)Paleontologist.Documented and recorded the succession of
fossils in sedimentary strata in the Paris Basin.Found deeper and older fossils to be dissimilar.
New species appear and older species disappear.
Advocated catastrophism. Species killed off by catastrophes and recreated.
James Hutton(1726-1797)Scottish geologist.Proposed gradualism . Profound changes are due to gradual changes
over a long period of time due to natural processes occurring within the Earth’s crust.
Charles Lyell (1797-1875)Proposed uniformitarianism. The idea that
geological processes have not changed over time and are at work.
Suggested the earth was a lot older than the previously thought 6000 years.
Processes persisting over long periods of time can accumulate to substantial change.
Charles Lyell
Jean Baptist Lamark Was in charge of an invertebrate collection at
the Natural History Museum in Paris.Noticed that species changed over time.Proposed that phenotype can change in
response to environment changes and those new characteristics were passed on to the offspring.
First idea that adaptations occur in response to the environment.
Jean Baptist Lamark
The Darwinian RevolutionCharles Darwin(1809 -1882) was born in
Shrewsbury, England.Wanted to be naturalist but was sent to
medical school in Edinborough at 16.He dropped out and went to Christ College at
Cambridge University and became a clergyman. Back then most naturalist were clergyman.
Viewed the world as natural theologists.The view that each species was newly
designed and non-evolving.
Darwin 1875
Reverend Robert HenslowBotany professor at Cambridge.Darwin was his protégéAt age 22 he was recommended to join
Captain Robert Fitzroy on the H.M.S. Beagle to sail around the world.
The primary mission was to chart the South American coastline.
Darwin collected and observed the flora and fauna.
H.M.S. Beagle Voyage
Descent With Modification
A Darwinian View of Life
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The GalapagosThe Galapagos Species unique although they most closely Species unique although they most closely
resembled South American species.resembled South American species. Darwin’s finches possessed different beaks to Darwin’s finches possessed different beaks to
accommodate different modes of eating.accommodate different modes of eating. Darwin read Darwin read Principles of GeologyPrinciples of Geology by Lyell by Lyell
and surmised that “old Earth” was inhabited and surmised that “old Earth” was inhabited by evolving species.by evolving species.
Darwin’s Finches
The Origin of SpeciesThe Origin of Species Lyell and a collegue presented Darwin’s work Lyell and a collegue presented Darwin’s work
Along with another British scientist by the Along with another British scientist by the name of Alfred Wallace.name of Alfred Wallace.
The paper was on the theory of “The paper was on the theory of “Natural Natural SelectionSelection” which Wallace and Darwin came up ” which Wallace and Darwin came up with simultaneously.with simultaneously.
Darwin published Darwin published “The Origin of Species” a “The Origin of Species” a year later.year later.
Alfred Wallace
Darwin’s ObservationsDarwin’s Observations Species had distinct South American Species had distinct South American
characteristics.characteristics. South American species that lived in the South American species that lived in the
temperate regions more closely resembled temperate regions more closely resembled the tropical species on the same continent the tropical species on the same continent than species that resided in the temperate than species that resided in the temperate regions on a different continent.regions on a different continent.
South American fossils resembled South South American fossils resembled South American species.American species.
Observations That Lead Darwin to the Observations That Lead Darwin to the Theory of Natural SelectionTheory of Natural Selection
OBSERVATIONSOBSERVATIONS All species have the potential to reproduce All species have the potential to reproduce
the maximum number of offspring.the maximum number of offspring. Populations remain stable (except for Populations remain stable (except for
seasonal fulgurations.seasonal fulgurations. Resources are limitedResources are limited CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION Organisms compete for food.Organisms compete for food.
Other ObservationsOther Observations Organisms varyOrganisms vary Organisms with suitable traits Organisms with suitable traits
survive to reproduce.survive to reproduce. Gradual changes in a population Gradual changes in a population
occur and the population occur and the population accumulates favorable accumulates favorable characteristics.characteristics.
Additional Evidence for Natural SelectionHomology similarities in characteristics due
to a common ancestor.Anatomical homologies
similar structures, different function.Embryological homologies
Similar structural development.Molecular homologies
Basic machinery of RNA and DNA are similar.Biogeographic homologies
Convergent evolution
HomologiesBiogeographic homologies
Endemic species. Convergent evolution - species that look similar but
have no common ancestry. Divergent evolution – species that have common
ancestry but evolve disparate characteristics.Fossil Record – the appearance of certain
classes of vertebrates in the fossil record. Fish before amphibians
Homologous Structures
Convergent Evolution
Natural SelectionDifferential success in reproduction.Variation in populations and how they
respond to the environment.The product of adaptation to their
environment.
Descent With Modification
Cartoon of Darwin