Transcript Scientists who aided theory of Evolution PPT

Thomas
Malthus
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1798 published Essay on the
Principle of Population
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Gave Darwin idea that populations produce
more offspring than can survive because
populations increase faster than earth can
support
This would mean that natural selection would be
“the survival of the fittest” because there were
not enough resources for every organism to
survive.
Lamarck
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Lamarck published a theory of
evolution in 1809 (same year
Darwin was born). He
explained the mechanism of
evolution with two principles.
The use or disuse of body
parts leads to their
development or deterioration,
acquired characteristics can
be inherited.
Charles Lyell
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Proposed geological theory of uniformitarianism which is
different from catastrophism.
Uniformitarianism- the events in the past that formed the
Earth are still at play today and are a gradual process
 Catastrophism – the other popular viewpoint of the Earth’s
structure was that the Earth remained constant for
thousands of years. Then, catastrophes would occur that
would change the Earth. After which, it would go back to
being the same for extended periods of time.
Principles of Geology was published, Darwin read and agreed
with the findings.
Charles Lyell Continued
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He studied sedimentary rock and how the layers
(stata) of the Earth form.
He said that these processes take thousands of
years to occur and those same processes
continued to occur today.
Darwin used this information to conclude that if
the different layers of the Earth take thousands
of years to form, then the different fossils found
in each layer must’ve taken thousands of years
to change or evolve.
Charles Lyell Cont.
Darwin and Wallace
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In the 1830’s Darwin starts compiling his
work and another scientist, Alfred Wallace,
was also working on a theory of natural
selection.
Before publishing his findings, Wallace
sends a copy of his work to Darwin in
1858.
To Darwin’s surprise, Wallace has
formulated a very similar theory.
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Both findings were presented to the Linnaean
Society in 1858.
Darwin’s Origin of Species was published in 1859
(yes! 20 years after he wrote it!), Wallace will
continue his travels and research
Wallace’s theory and name will forever stand in
the shadow of Darwin and the theory of
evolution.