Who was Charles Darwin?
Intro to Charles Darwin - YouTube video
1) What about Charles Darwin made him especially suited to be a scientist?
2) What did Darwin see/do on his 5 year journey on the H.M.S. Beagle
3) Why was the publication of On the Origin of Species a courageous act?
1) What about Charles Darwin made him especially suited to be a scientist?
2) What did Darwin see/do on his 5 year journey on the H.M.S. Beagle
3) Why was the publication of On the Origin of Species a courageous act?
What is Evolution?
The change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift.
What is natural selection?
The organism most adapted to its environment will leave the most offspring and thus pass its traits onward.
Steps
1) Overpopulation - More offspring will be produced than can survive from parent organisms.
2) Variation - due to the rules of genetics and mutations, offspring produced are all unique and slightly different.
3) Competition for survival - These varieties in nature are all "fighting" to survive.
4) Selection - Organisms with the right set of variations to survive in their environment will live long enough to produce offspring. Those offspring will contain the traits of their parents which are good for survival.
Steps
1) Overpopulation - More offspring will be produced than can survive from parent organisms.
2) Variation - due to the rules of genetics and mutations, offspring produced are all unique and slightly different.
3) Competition for survival - These varieties in nature are all "fighting" to survive.
4) Selection - Organisms with the right set of variations to survive in their environment will live long enough to produce offspring. Those offspring will contain the traits of their parents which are good for survival.
Darwin's Dangerous Idea (PBS Video)
The following clips are from the PBS special "Darwin's Dangerous Idea". The video takes you through Charles Darwin's life and how he came to develop his famous theory of evolution by means of natural selection. The video has been on YouTube in 11 segments.
Part 1/11 - Introduction and Initial Journey
Part 2/11 - Darwin's Theory begins to take shape
Part 3/11 - Birds and Natural Selection
Part 4/11 - Darwin develops his theory of adaptations leading to survival.
Part 5/11 - How the HIV virus has adapted and evolved.
Part 6/11 - Darwin's struggles with what his theory implies.
Part 7/11 - Evolution of an Eye
Part 8/11 - Darwin's family loss and his struggle with it.
Part 9/11 - How do you balance evolution with main stream religion.
Part 10/11 - Darwin Publishes his famous book On the Origin of Species.
Part 11/11 - How DNA has supported Darwin's theory and legacy of Darwin.
Part 1/11 - Introduction and Initial Journey
Part 2/11 - Darwin's Theory begins to take shape
Part 3/11 - Birds and Natural Selection
Part 4/11 - Darwin develops his theory of adaptations leading to survival.
Part 5/11 - How the HIV virus has adapted and evolved.
Part 6/11 - Darwin's struggles with what his theory implies.
Part 7/11 - Evolution of an Eye
Part 8/11 - Darwin's family loss and his struggle with it.
Part 9/11 - How do you balance evolution with main stream religion.
Part 10/11 - Darwin Publishes his famous book On the Origin of Species.
Part 11/11 - How DNA has supported Darwin's theory and legacy of Darwin.