Evolution Before Darwin Flashcards
What is evolution?
Evolution is heritable change in a population or species over time
What are the obstacles to evolutionary thinking?
① essentialism
② Religious/divine beliefs or belief in supernatural causation
③ everyday shows us - generational continuity and not radical discontinuity
④ natural theology - new term for teleological explanation
⑤ incomplete fossil records -Cuvier believed that fossils show abrupt rather than gradual changes.
⑥the plenitude principle. - creation was fully stocked and no gaps can exist.
⑦ moral e societal chaos as it opposes the sayings of bible and might go against its infallible nature.
⑧ misunderstanding of evolution. - The word theory seems like a guess for a common man
What is the linen system of classification?
The Linnaean system of classification consists of a hierarchy of groupings, called taxa(singular, taxon). Taxa range from the kingdom to the species (see Figure below). The kingdom is the largest and most inclusive grouping. It consists of organisms that share just a few basic similarities. Examples are the plant and animal kingdoms. The species is the smallest and most exclusive grouping. It consists of organisms that are similar enough to produce fertile offspring together. Closely related species are grouped together in a genus.
What are the various indications of evolutionary change?
① linden hierarchy and natural groupings.
② function w/s type similarities
③ sequence of fossils instratigraphical column& reality of extinction. Two ways to explain:
→ life-extinction - new life (cycle)
→ one thing evolved into another.
④ spontaneous generation of organisms
⑤ natural theology- function and adaptation
⑥ inherited variability
⑦ vestigial and inefficient structures - why do they exist if no function
⑧time environmental and change
⑨ idea of change penetrated into European consciousness in wide array of fields.
10. Similarity beyond functional necessity.
Who wrote The book zoonomia?
Erasmus Darwin.
Who wrote The book zoonomia?
Erasmus Darwin.
What were Erasmus’s thoughts on evolution?
① Zoonomia set forth a theory for evolution - impressed by artificial selection. Example: dogs
② CAUSE of evolutionary change : The faculty of continuing to improve - by its own inherent activity and passing down those improvements by generation to its posterity - inheritance of characteristics acquired during life.
③ warm-blooded animals were descended from one common ancestor
….. Invented biological keys to understand plant physiology
Lamarck
What were Lamarck ‘s mani contribution toward?
Invertebrate zoology
What was the sequence of Lamarck’s books?
① zoological philosophy-1809
② natural history of invertebrates- 1815
③ analytical system of positive knowledge about man-1820
Why Lamarck believed that life evolved?
① linnaeu suggest a relationship
② reality of environmental change means evolution must occur if life is to survive
③ evolution salves the problem of extinction as new species evolve to replace the vanished ones
What were the 2 promos causes of evolution by Lamarck?
① primary cause: organisms have the tendency to increase the complexity of their organization. This happens when finds inside org. Slosh around a carve out new channels organs.
② use and disuse::organs that are used more often increase in aires strength & if not used it deteriorates and disappears
——- was the book written by Patrick Matthew —— years before the publishing of the origin of species.
① on naval Timber & arboriculture
② 28 years before
The vestiges of the natural history of creation was written bi……… (1844)
Robert chambers
What evidence did chambers give for the reality of evolution?
① fossil strate suggest temporal sequence
② comparative anatomy & embryology
③ progression from simple to complex within groups of organism.
4. New life arose by frequent spontaneous generation - species evolved by means of variable stopping points in the embryological development
