BIO 301M Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Theodosius Dobzhansky, Linnean Society Of London, Uniformitarianism
Document Summary
Evolution: a process through which the characteristics of species change and through which new species arise. Theory of evolution: unifying theory of biology the framework within which biologists ask questions about the living world; provides direction for predictions about living things that are borne out in experiment after experiment. 18th century: scientists questioned if species could evolve and the extinction of some species. Theodosius dobzhansky: nothing makes sense in biology except in the light of evolution ; the principle that all life has evolved and diversified from a common ancestor is the foundation from which we understand all other questions in biology. Charles lyell geological processes that sculpted earth"s surface over long periods of time are exactly the same as the processes observed today; principles of geology challenged view that earth was 6,000 years old. *the actual mechanism for evolution was independently conceived by charles darwin and alfred russell wallace (scientific papers were presented before the linnean society in.
