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Published byLeslie Dominic Green Modified over 8 years ago
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Charles Darwin was born Feb. 12 th, 1809 Same year as Abraham Lincoln (what was happening during this time period?) How was the scientific view of the world changing? – World has changed over time, and is constantly evolving Developed scientific theory of EVOLUTION: The process of change over time
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One of the most important scientific voyages in history 5 year voyage on the HMS Beagle Visited what continents? Africa, S. America, Australia Collected many plant and animal specimens, and took LOTS of notes, drawings, and observations
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Visited wide range of habitats In S. America - rhea In Africa - ostrich In Australia - emu All similar habitats, yet different animals… *Different, yet ecologically similar animal species inhabited separate, but ecologically similar habitats around the globe Species vary globally!
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*Different, yet related animal species occupied different habitats within a local area (species vary locally) Habitat varied on each of the islands Ex: Tortoise shells differed for each island Ex: Finch beaks differed for each island
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In addition to living specimens, Darwin also collected preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, called fossils He noted that some fossils of extinct animals were similar to living species Ex: Extinct glyptodont – today’s armadillo
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Darwin had many questions Used his collections and observations to fit the pieces of the puzzle together Why did some organisms live in one place and nowhere else? Why did different flightless birds live in similar grasslands in the Southern Hemisphere, but not the North? Used ideas of other scientists of his time
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During Darwin’s time, new field called geology, study of rocks Provided evidence about Earth’s history – Earth probably not just 4,000 years old – much older! Famous geologists – James Hutton and Charles Lyell Wrote that Earth is extremely old and processes that changed Earth in the past are the same now Hutton’s concept of deep time – idea that our planet’s history is so old we cannot comprehend it
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French naturalist, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck proposed that: 1. Organisms could change during their lifetime by selectively using (or not using) certain body parts (acquired characteristics) 2. Individuals could pass these acquired traits on to offspring, causing “evolution” or change over time Are these hypotheses accurate?
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English economist Thomas Malthus (1798) Human population was growing exponentially Hypothesis: if human population grew uncontrollably, there wouldn’t be enough living space and food for everyone Limiting factors would cause certain individuals to survive or not survive How did this help Darwin’s theory?
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Darwin studied changes produced by plant and animal breeders They knew some change could be passed on to improve crops and livestock Farmers selected trees that produced the largest fruit or cows that produced the most milk Process called artificial selection, in which nature provides variation and humans select those they find useful
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