Charles Darwin

and His
Origin of Species
 Darwin’s Background

• Born in England, 1809 

• Studied Medicine at
Edinburgh University
• Transferred to Cambridge
University
• Studied to be a Minister

Library of Congress, Prints and

Photographs Division [reproduction
number, e.g., LC-USZ61-104].
 Darwin’s Expedition - 1831
• Hired as Naturalist on H.M.S. Beagle
• Sailed on Five Year Scientific
Expedition
– Down East Coast of South America
– Up Pacific Coast to Galapagos Islands
– Made Stops on Mainland and Islands
– Observed Variety of Life and
Habitats
 Darwin’s Work

• Outlined Theory in his Book in 1859:

– On the Origin of Species by Means of
Natural Selection
• Published Other Works on Biology
• Died in 1882
 Summary of Origin of Species
• Proposed Evolution Resulting from
Natural Selection:
– Organisms Produce Many Offspring
– Competition for Food, Territory, Mates, etc.
– Those With Best Traits Survive
– Organisms Change Over Many Generations
• Time Frame: Millions of Years
Darwin’s Support for His Theory

• Characteristics of Organisms
Coincide With Habitats
• Changes Produced by Breeding of
Organisms
 Limitations of Darwin’s Theory

• Apparent Limits to Variation

• No Mechanism For Sufficiently New
Characteristics
• Transitional Forms Would Require
Special Environments
• Oversimplified View of Living Cells
• The Origin of Life Unexplained
• Limitations of Fossil Record
Limitations of the Fossil Record
• Sudden Appearance of Complex Life
• Lack of Clear Transitional Forms
• Gives More Evidence For Species
Disappearance
Limitations of the Fossil Record
• Sudden Appearance of Complex Life
• Lack of Clear Transitional Forms
• Gives More Evidence For Species
Disappearance
• Explanation of Strata Insufficient
Limitations of the Fossil Record
 Strata Better Explained by
Hydrologic Catastrophe
• Magnitude of Fossil Graveyards
Strata Better Explained by
Hydrologic Catastrophe
 Strata Better Explained by
Hydrologic Catastrophe
• Magnitude of Fossil Graveyards
• Polystrate Fossils
 Strata Better Explained by
Hydrologic Catastrophe
• Magnitude of Fossil Graveyards
• Polystrate Fossils
• Inconsistent Fossil Distribution
 Strata Better Explained by
Hydrologic Catastrophe
• Magnitude of Fossil Graveyards
• Polystrate Fossils
• Inconsistent Fossil Distribution
• Fossils Found Together From
Separate Ages
 Strata Better Explained by
Hydrologic Catastrophe
• Magnitude of Fossil Graveyards
• Polystrate Fossils
• Inconsistent Fossil Distribution
• Fossils Found Together From
Separate Ages
• Simple (“Older”) Organisms Above
Complex (“Younger”)
 Scientists’ Initial Reactions to
Darwin’s Work
• A Compilation of Assertions and
Hypotheses
• Unsupported by Scientific Testing
• Contains Assumptions that Cannot Be
Supported
• Violates the Principles of Cause and
Effect
• Illogical Conclusions
 The Acceptance of Darwin’s
Theory of Evolution
• Natural Selection of Genetic
Variations is Observable
– Limited to Genes Already Present
– New Traits Produced Only By Mutations
– Overwhelming Odds Against Good
Mutations
Ultimately, Acceptance Depended On
One Factor:
Willingness to Accept a Naturalistic
Explanation