It's one hundred and fifty years ago today, the first of July, 2008, that Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace first presented papers on the idea of natural selection to the Linnean Society in London.
At that time, there was little understanding among those present of how Earth-shattering the theory of natural selection really was. It took the publication of Darwin's seminal On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, commonly (and incorrectly) known as 'The Origin of Species' in 1859 for it to really take off.
Since then, Darwin's original ideas have been modified somewhat; for instance, Darwin couldn't include any discussion of the role of genetics - it wouldn't be discovered until some time afterwards. Nevertheless, the theory underpins our entire understanding of how life on Earth developed and makes it possible to properly understand where we have come from.
Despite the best (which admittedly is normally pretty feeble) that its opponents can throw at it, the theory of evolution remains in robust health. Here's just a few of the evolution-themed stories I've picked up on Digg this year alone:
This stuff is so thrilling, and so awe inspiring, and yet based on such a simple and elegant idea, it's hard to believe that some people find it threatening and refuse to engage with it, yet sadly, they do.
The fact is that the theory stands up every which way you look at it. No significant holes have appeared in it in 150 years. To believe that this is not a theory with legs takes an unwillingness to engage with reality. Sure, the theory might change more as more evidence comes to light, but that's fine. Right here, right now, this is the best explanation we have, and it's a damn convincing one.
Happy birthday Natural Selection - here's to the next 150.
At that time, there was little understanding among those present of how Earth-shattering the theory of natural selection really was. It took the publication of Darwin's seminal On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, commonly (and incorrectly) known as 'The Origin of Species' in 1859 for it to really take off.
Since then, Darwin's original ideas have been modified somewhat; for instance, Darwin couldn't include any discussion of the role of genetics - it wouldn't be discovered until some time afterwards. Nevertheless, the theory underpins our entire understanding of how life on Earth developed and makes it possible to properly understand where we have come from.
Despite the best (which admittedly is normally pretty feeble) that its opponents can throw at it, the theory of evolution remains in robust health. Here's just a few of the evolution-themed stories I've picked up on Digg this year alone:
- Bacteria evolve; Conservapedia demands recount
- Fossil fills out water-land leap
- New Discovery Proves 'Selfish Gene' Exists
- Jellyfish and human eyes use similar genetic building blocks
- Origins of the brain: Complex synapses drove brain evolution
- New Way To Think About Earth's First Cells
- Fossil reveals oldest live birth
- Religion is a product of evolution, software suggests
- The superior eyes of shrimp
- Scientists discover ''frogamander'' fossil
- Giant bacterium carries thousands of copies of its genome
- Genetic blueprint of worlds strangest mammal deciphered
- Lizards Evolve Rapidly Once Introduced On Different Island!
- Ancient Snake Had 2 Legs
This stuff is so thrilling, and so awe inspiring, and yet based on such a simple and elegant idea, it's hard to believe that some people find it threatening and refuse to engage with it, yet sadly, they do.
The fact is that the theory stands up every which way you look at it. No significant holes have appeared in it in 150 years. To believe that this is not a theory with legs takes an unwillingness to engage with reality. Sure, the theory might change more as more evidence comes to light, but that's fine. Right here, right now, this is the best explanation we have, and it's a damn convincing one.
Happy birthday Natural Selection - here's to the next 150.
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