BISC 120Lg Lecture 9: Evolution (cont.)
21 Mar 2016
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Myth #1: darwin was rst to propose that life on this planet evolved. Evolutionary ideas began with ancient greeks: empedocles. Developed theory struggle among animals that foreshadow natural selection. Aristotle believed life forms were xed, but his scala naturae inspired future evolutionary theories. Linnaeus developed a classi cation system that played a role in darwin"s evolutionary arguments: did not believe in evolution, used classi cation system to reveal divine order of life, considered the father of taxonomy. Cuvier, a catastrophist: paleontologist, found different fossils in different strata and inferred extinction, believed boundaries between strata due to catastrophes. Hutton and lyell advocated gradualism: believed earth"s features explained by processes currently operating, implied earth is >> 6,000 years old because of gradualism theory. Lamarck"s theory was published the year darwin was born [wrong about giraffes: developed comprehensive theory of evolution that included discredited theory of inheritance of acquired characters.
