15.2 – Ideas That Shaped Darwin’s Thinking

Darwin’s Ideas Darwin greatly changed the thinking of many scientists, but also many did not believe him Most Europeans at the time believed Earth was only created a few thousands of years before present time They believed everything was created the way it was and never changed By the time Darwin set sail there was a rich fossil record challenging this idea

Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution One of first scientists to recognize things have changed over time He also recognized organisms were adapted to their environment He proposed that by selective use or disuse of organs, organisms acquired or lost certain traits during their lifetime And then be inherited

Lamarck’s Examples

Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution Section 15-2 Fiddler Crab example 2. Use and disuse Waving to attract mates Tendency towards perfection Changing to live more successfully 3. Inheritance of acquired characteristics

Lamarck’s Theory His theory is incorrect in several ways He was one of the first to develop the Theory of Evolution and realize animals adapt to their environment

Population Growth In 1798, Thomas Malthus saw babies were being born faster then people were dying He reasoned if that continues to happen the time might come when there is insufficient land and food on Earth to support the population size Does this apply to all living organisms?