Charles Darwin and His Origin of Species

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Charles Darwin and His Origin of Species
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Darwins Background

• Born in England, 1809 
• Studied Medicine at Edinburgh University
• Transferred to Cambridge University
• Studied to be a Minister

Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs
Division reproduction number, e.g.,
LC-USZ61-104.
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Darwins Expedition - 1831

• Hired as Naturalist on H.M.S. Beagle
• Sailed on Five Year Scientific Expedition
• Down East Coast of South America
• Up Pacific Coast to Galapagos Islands
• Made Stops on Mainland and Islands
• Observed Variety of Life and Habitats

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Darwins Work

• Outlined Theory in his Book in 1859
• On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural
  Selection
• Published Other Works on Biology
• Died in 1882

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Summary of Origin of Species

• Proposed Evolution Resulting from Natural
  Selection
• Organisms Produce Many Offspring
• Competition for Food, Territory, Mates, etc.
• Those With Best Traits Survive
• Organisms Change Over Many Generations
• Time Frame Millions of Years

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Darwins Support for His Theory

• Characteristics of Organisms Coincide With
  Habitats
• Changes Produced by Breeding of Organisms
• Geologic Ages Suggested by Charles Lyell
• Similarities of Various Organisms

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Limitations of Darwins Theory

• Apparent Limits to Variation
• No Mechanism For Sufficiently New Characteristics
• Transitional Forms Would Require Special
  Environments
• Oversimplified View of Living Cells
• The Origin of Life Unexplained
• Limitations of Fossil Record

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Limitations of the Fossil Record

• Sudden Appearance of Complex Life
• Lack of Clear Transitional Forms
• Gives More Evidence For Species Disappearance

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Limitations of the Fossil Record

• Sudden Appearance of Complex Life
• Lack of Clear Transitional Forms
• Gives More Evidence For Species Disappearance
• Explanation of Strata Insufficient

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Limitations of the Fossil Record
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Strata Better Explained by Hydrologic Catastrophe

• Magnitude of Fossil Graveyards

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Strata Better Explained by Hydrologic Catastrophe
Petrified
forest American Environmental Photographs
Collection, AEP Image Number, e.g., AEP-AZS8,
Department of Special Collections, University of
Chicago Library, American Memory Collection.
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Strata Better Explained by Hydrologic Catastrophe

• Magnitude of Fossil Graveyards
• Polystrate Fossils

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Strata Better Explained by Hydrologic Catastrophe
Vertical Fossil Trees
American Environmental Photographs Collection,
AEP Image Number, e.g., AEP-WYS32, Department
of Special Collections, University of Chicago
Library, American Memory Collection.
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Strata Better Explained by Hydrologic Catastrophe

• Magnitude of Fossil Graveyards
• Polystrate Fossils
• Inconsistent Fossil Distribution

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Strata Better Explained by Hydrologic Catastrophe

• Magnitude of Fossil Graveyards
• Polystrate Fossils
• Inconsistent Fossil Distribution
• Fossils Found Together From Separate Ages

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Strata Better Explained by Hydrologic Catastrophe

• Magnitude of Fossil Graveyards
• Polystrate Fossils
• Inconsistent Fossil Distribution
• Fossils Found Together From Separate Ages
• Simple (Older) Organisms Above Complex
  (Younger)

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Scientists Initial Reactions to Darwins Work

• A Compilation of Assertions and Hypotheses
• Unsupported by Scientific Testing
• Contains Assumptions that Cannot Be Supported
• Violates the Principles of Cause and Effect
• Illogical Conclusions

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So Why Was It Eventually Accepted?

• It Passed Rigorous Scientific Testing?
• No, His Hypotheses Are Not Testable 
• Were Transitional Fossils Found?
• No Clearly Substantiated Links Found Yet
• A Mechanism to Produce New Traits Discovered?
• Mutations Result in Lost Genetic Information

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The Acceptance of Darwins Theory of Evolution

• Natural Selection of Genetic Variations is
  Observable
• Limited to Genes Already Present
• New Traits Produced Only By Mutations
• Overwhelming Odds Against Good Mutations

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Ultimately, Acceptance Depended On One Factor

• Willingness to Accept a Naturalistic Explanation

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Credits

• All clip art is from ClickArt by Broderbund
• All photographs were accessed through the Library
  of Congress American Memory Collection.
• The Darwin photograph is from Library of
  Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
• The dinosaur fossil photo is from the Chicago
  Daily News negatives collection, Courtesy of the
  Chicago Historical Society.
• The Bryce Canyon and fossil display photos are
  from the Western History/Genealogy Department,
  Denver Public Library.
• The fossil trees and Petrified Forest photos are
  from the American Environmental Photographs
  Collection, Department of Special Collections,
  University of Chicago Library.