SOCL 4461 Chapter : SOCL 4461 06 Neobiological Theories
Document Summary
Descent with modification: a darwinian view of life. Trees got taller: evolutionary adaptation, accumulation of inherited characteristics that enhance organisms" ability to survive in specific environments. Cuvier- catastrophism: catastrophes cause extinct species and strata. Evolution by natural selection: darwin and wallace developed the theory independently, darwin- voyage of the beagle, wallace- british naturalist in indonesia. Darwin"s focus on adaptation: studied finch, cactus eater, insect eater, seed eater, each finch"s body was designed which a different beak according to their food source (ideally suited for diet and environment) Artificial selection: selective breeding of organisms to encourage the occurrence of desirable traits, provides evidence for natural selection. I. e dogs labs were bred for duck hunting, rottweiler"s were bred to be guard dogs; Aristotle"s scala naturae: ladder of nature (pg 453, evolution not about climbing ladder of nature from lower to higher, evolution is a bush with lineages branching from one another. Evolution is supported by overwhelming amount of specific evidence.