Evolution Theory Before Darwin

University:
The University Of Western Ontario
Course:
Biology 2290F | Scientific Method in Biology
Academic year:

2022
Views:

301

Pages:

2
Author:

Kyuwon J.

Historical, before Darwin ● Natural Theology ○ Categorization of organisms to glorify and divine order ○ Make justifications on religion and expansionisms ○ ex) ■ Wiliam Paley’s watchmaker analogy ● If find a watch on ground, there will be natural interfere with the design of watchmaker since it is too complex to be arose by chance ● Complexity of human eye has not arose by random chance must imply with divine designers ● Geology ○ Rock stratus on Earth had shown ○ Much older than biblical estimates ○ Fossil embedded in layers ■ Evolution + change in phenotypes over long period of time ● Fossils ○ Clear evidence of extinctions ■ Mammoths + giant sloths which did not exist in present day were clearly thriving on past ■ Older layer has similar organisms ■ Newer layers has more complex organisms ● Comparative Anatomy ○ Study in similarities and differences in anatomy ○ Homology = shared structures within different species but has different functions ■ Human arm ● Adaptation for fine motor skills ■ Bat wings ● Elongation of fingers = supporting membranes ■ Whale flippers ● short broad bones used for swimming ■ Cats/dogs ● digitgards morphoology ○ even with different functions the structure are conserved ■ humerus => radiums/ulna => carpals => phalages ○ Hard to explain by independent creation ■ why does it have same structures if species are made independently ■ descent from common ancestors ● structures are inherited from past generation to present generations ● had common ancestor that had forelimb structure sometimes in the past ● modified over time ● convergent evolutions under somewhat common selective pressure ■ Vestigial traits ● human appendix, whale pelvic bones, wings on penguins ● Still present anatomically., but is not or less functional ○ reminder of ancestral function Non-Western Thinkers ● Al-Jahiz ○ Struggle for survival when resource is limited ○ stronger better adapted individuals will survive to descend their traits down to next generations ○ diverse and intellectual roots not only in Europeans ■ struggle for existence before Darwin ● Early ideas ○ Chinese and Indian philosophers has believed in speculation on species change and adaptations ○ Demonstration on curiosity on life and its anatomy has been common in different cultures