Transcript Charles Darwin and Natural Selection

Charles Darwin and More
CHARLES DARWIN
 1809-1892
 English naturalist who
established the organic
theory of evolution known as
Darwinism
 Evolution: Concept that
existing animals and plants
developed by a process of
gradual, continuous change
from previously existing
forms
EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS OF HUMAN ORIGINS
 Drawn from direct observations from the 18th
century
 Relied on the scientific method
 Rejected the simultaneous creation of all species in
favor of the cumulative creation of species
NATURAL SELECTION
Based on the picture to the left,
what do you believe natural
selection means?
Natural Selection: The process
by which favorable traits that
are heritable become more
common in successive
generations of a population of
reproducing organisms, and
unfavorable traits that are
heritable become less common.
Human “family tree” is more like a “family bush,” within which it
is impossible to connect a full chronological series of species,
leading to Homo sapiens...
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Essentially: there is no one direct link between homo sapiens and our ancestors…
IMPORTANT ARCHAEOLOGISTS
Louis and Mary Leakey
o Leakeys focused on the Olduvai Gorge
region of eastern Tanzania.
o 1974: Australopithecine remains were soon
discovered.
o 1976: Mary made her most famous
discovery—several sets of bipedal hominid
footprints. Full bipedal locomotion had
been achieved as early as 3.75 million years
ago,
o Important because: bipedal locomotion is
considered a defining human characteristic
AND it attracted much worldwide attention
OLDUVAI GORGE
RESOURCES
"Charles Darwin." Image. Library of Congress. World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. ABC-CLIO,
2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011.
"Donald Johanson." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011.
Evolution: human lineage pathways. Art. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web.
8 Sept. 2011. <http://www.school.eb.com/eb/art-45440>.
Human evolution." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica,
Inc., 2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.school.eb.com/eb/article-9117282>.
"Louis and Mary Leakey." Image. Bettmann/Corbis. World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2011.
Web. 8 Sept. 2011
"Louis and Mary Leakey." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011.
“Lucy.” Image. http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/lucy.html, 11/30/2002 Copyright © Jim Foley
"Olduvai Gorge." Image. William Warby. World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 8 Sept.
2011.
"Topographic Map." Map. World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011.