Charles Darwin in the contemporary world!! -- by Yim Wong =)

Evolution Today

A century and a half ago, Charles Darwin offered the world a single, simple scientific explanation for the diversity of life on Earth: evolution by natural selection. Since then, countless scientists -- whether fighting viruses, decoding DNA or analyzing the fossil record -- have found that Darwin's work is fundamental to their own.

Modern scientists can now answer questions about the natural world in ways Darwin never could. New tools and technologies, such as DNA analyses, can reveal unexpected relationships between seemingly dissimilar groups. Accurate fossil dating methods show that evolution proceeds at variable rates and is not always gradual. And sophisticated studies of wild populations provide insights into how new species are formed. Darwin would be amazed -- and delighted -- to see how our new knowledge has helped advance his theory.

Here is a time-line (retrieved from the official website of American Museum of Natural History) that shows the revolution of Darwin's evolutionary theory starting with his birth until the present day!!

• 1749–1844: Early Evolutionists
  • Even before Charles Darwin is born, a handful of naturalists in England and France -- including Comte de Buffon, Erasmus Darwin and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, among others -- publish books promoting the idea that species are related by descent. But no one can explain convincingly how evolution works.
• 1802: A Watch, a Watchmaker
  • In Natural Theology, or, Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, William Paley argues that just as the workings of a watch are evidence of purposeful design by a watchmaker, complex living organisms are evidence of design by an intelligent Creator.
• 1859: Darwin's Origin
  • Charles Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species, putting forward his theory of Evolution by natural selection.
• 1860: The "Great Debate"
  • Based on his belief in special creation, Bishop Samuel Wilberforce (far left) leads an attack on Darwin's theory at a meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, held at Oxford University Museum. Two of England's most influential scientists, Thomas Huxley and Joseph Hooker, fiercely support Darwin's work. Both sides claim victory.
• 1863–1871: Humans, Too
  • Thomas Huxley's Evidence on Man's Place in Nature, and Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man explicitly apply evolution to humans.
• 1850s–1920s: Social Darwinism
  • Social theorists begin to apply Darwin's theory to human social institutions, claiming that governments should allow the "fittest" in societies to succeed and the "unfit" to decline. Ultimately this thinking leads some to espouse eugenics, in which the state intervenes in human breeding to create a "superior race." Darwin distances himself from this thinking.
• 1882: Death of Darwin
  • Charles Darwin dies and is buried with honor in Westminster Abbey, a few feet away from Sir Isaac Newton. Darwin's funeral is attended by England's leading politicians, scientists and clergy.
• 1925: Scopes "Monkey Trial"
  • In the United States, Tennessee makes it a misdemeanor for public school teachers to teach evolution, and 24-year-old biology teacher John Scopes is tried for violating the law. The trial pits state's attorney William Jennings Bryan against defense attorney Clarence Darrow -- and gives the issue global visibility, galvanizing evolution proponents.
• 1948: Public School Shift
  • The U.S. Supreme Court bans religious instruction in public schools, noting that "the First Amendment rests upon the premise that both religion and government can best work to achieve their lofty aims if each is left free from the other within its respective sphere."
• 1960s: Teaching Evolution in Schools Reaffirmed
  • Tennessee repeals the act that prohibited teaching evolution in schools and gave rise to the Scopes trial, while the U.S. Supreme Court rules that an Arkansas law that prohibited the teaching of evolution is in violation of the First Amendment.
• 1981–1982: Intelligent Design–Creationism
  • Some U.S. proponents of creationism begin to promote the idea of intelligent design, maintaining that complexity in living organisms is evidence that life was created by an "intelligent designer."
• 1996: Pope John Paul II
  • Stating that evolution is "more than a hypothesis," Pope John Paul II proclaims that there is no essential contradiction between evolutionary science and Catholicism, a view that is later debated by some Catholic leaders.
• 2000–2002: Public Opinion
  • In the United States, a public opinion poll reveals that 57% of Americans say they believe in or lean toward creationism, although many of these do not identify themselves as "creationists." The results are consistent with those obtained in similar polls over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, in England Darwin is once again given a public place of honor-this time, on the 10-pound note.
• 2004–2005: Parents Challenge School Board in Court
  • The Dover, Pennsylvania, school board rules that high school biology teachers must read a statement to students alleging "gaps" in Darwin's theory and advocating Intelligent Design as an alternative explanation. Seeking to block the requirement, eleven parents take the school board to court.
• 2009: Darwin Bicentennial
  • Two hundred years after his birth, Charles Darwin and his scientific theory of evolution by natural selection still have an enormous influence on the modern world.

Although Charles Darwin died about two hundred years ago, we are still interested and curious about his theory of Evolution today. Here is a presentation by the American Museum of Natural History and the New York Botanical Garden:

Darwin: Yesterday and Today

• Tuesday, May 6, 2008
• 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Arthur and Janet Ross Lecture Hall
  New York Botanical Gardens
• $10 each/$16 for both
  Free to Members of AMNH and NYBG
  registration required

Videos

If you are not able to attend the presentation in New York, I got some videos from Youtube which may also give you an idea of Charles Darwin himself and his theory of Evolution. =)

It is a series called Evolution Primer, which is consist of seven short episodes. The following videos are ones that I find of particular interest. Enjoy ~


Evolution Primer #2: Who Was Charles Darwin?

• Discover how Darwin's curiosity, his passion for natural history, his voyage on the Beagle, and his use of the scientific process led to the publication of his groundbreaking book
  

Evolution Primer #4: How Does Evolution Really Work?

• Travel to Ecuador to see how the process of natural selection operates in populations of rainforest hummingbirds

Evolution Primer #5: Did Humans Evolve?

• Examine the fossil and molecular evidence that supports the evolution of humans from earlier primate ancestors

Evolution Primer #7: Why Is Evolution Controversial Anyway?

• Consider different points of view, as scientists, religious leaders, and college students share their opinions about evolution, science, and religious faith

References:
1. http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/darwin/
2. http://youtube.com/watch?v=vmphlbRhLu8
3. http://youtube.com/watch?v=xkwRTIKXaxg
4. http://youtube.com/watch?v=x5NG8SYQSzE
5. http://youtube.com/watch?v=PKtamnmrNqs

Updated by Yim Wong =) (4.28.08)








I decided to do a little bit research on Charles Darwin and his theory of Evolution because when I first learned about him during middle school, I was quite convinced by his theory. Even though it was very informative and complicated, it totally made sense to me at that time since I loved science. Later, I got a chance to know about God and His creation of man, I was confused and questions started rising in my head. Nevertheless, I stopped there. Now, it is a good opportunity for me to continue exploring on this topic. I will start by giving a brief biography of Charles Darwin. Then, a summary of his theory of Evolution will be followed.... by Yim Wong =)

Charles Robert Darwin (1809 -- 1882)

Charles Robert Darwin was born at Shrewsbury on the 12th of February 1809. His father was a doctor and his mother was the daughter of Josiah Wedgwood. Darwin’s early education was conducted at Shrewsbury, first for a year at a day-school, then for seven years at Shrewsbury School. In 1825 he went to Edinburgh to prepare for the medical profession, for which he was unfitted by nature. After two sessions his father realized this, and in 1828 sent him to Cambridge with the idea that he should become a clergyman. He matriculated at Christ’s College, and took his degree in 1831. Up to this time he had been keenly interested in sport, and in entomology, especially the collecting of beetles. In 1826, Darwin read his first scientific paper, and he gained the friendship of much older scientific men at Cambridge, namely John Stevens Henslow and Adam Sedgwick at Cambridge. He studies geology with Professor Sedgwick and had a trip to Wales with him. After returning from the trip, Darwin received a letter from Professor Henslow, urging him to apply for the position of naturalist on the Beagle, a surveying expedition. The cruise of the Beagle were extended, in that it was to take place over the best part of five years (1831 -- 1836) and was to take in the southern islands, the South American coast and Australia. While aboard the vessel, Darwin served as a geologist, botanist, zoologist, and general man of science. He gained an experience which would prove to be a substantial foundation for his life's work. In 1840, he published Zoology of the Beagle.

Later, Darwin directly on account of his early adventures (with his evidence and his conclusions: zoological, botanical, geological and paleontological), could no longer subscribe to the teachings of Genesis, that every species had been created whole and have come through the ages unchanged. All the evidence supports the proposition that life on earth has evolved; life started out slow and small, and our current state of existence is as a result of some process working upon natural materials throughout a period that consists of millions and millions of years. In 1859, Darwin came out with his scholarly presentation, The Origin of Species. It is now recognized as a leading work in natural philosophy and in the history of mankind. Simply stated, Darwin's theory is that things and life evolve by a process which Darwin called "natural selection." After publication of Origin of Species, Darwin continued to write on botany, geology, and zoology until his death in 1882. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.



Evolution... and ... Natural Selection

Darwin's Theory of Evolution is the widely held notion that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor: the birds and the bananas, the fishes and the flowers -- all related. Darwin's general theory presumes the development of life from non-life and stresses a purely naturalistic "descent with modification". That is, complex creatures evolve from more simplistic ancestors naturally over time. In a nutshell, as random genetic mutations occur within an organism's genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival -- a process known as "natural selection." These beneficial mutations are passed on to the next generation. Over time, beneficial mutations accumulate and the result is an entirely different organism.

Natural selection acts to preserve and accumulate minor advantageous genetic mutations. Suppose a member of a species developed a functional advantage. Its offspring would inherit that advantage and pass it on to their offspring. The inferior members of the same species would gradually die out, leaving only the superior members of the species. Natural selection is the preservation of a functional advantage that enables a species to compete better in the wild. Natural selection is the naturalistic equivalent to domestic breeding. Over the centuries, human breeders have produced dramatic changes in domestic animal populations by selecting individuals to breed. Breeders eliminate undesirable traits gradually over time. Similarly, natural selection eliminates inferior species gradually over time.



References:
1. http://www.allaboutscience.org/darwins-theory-of-evolution.htm
2.http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Biographies/Science/Darwin.htm
3.http://www.darwin-literature.com/l_biography.html
4.http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96feb/darwin.html