Question

In at least 100 words, briefly discuss two of Darwins’ observations or findings that you found most interesting. Also, comment on the following statement: “If Darwin hadn’t finally published his findings, we would be completely in the dark about evolution and how it works.”

Answer 1

Charles Darwin was the initial scientist to elucidate the eminent role of natural selection in speciation. Darwin described that by the theory of natural selection "innumerable transitional forms should have existed," and further wondered and pointed out that "why do we not find them embedded in innumerable numbers in the crust of the earth." That evidently concluded that species in fact do exist in nature in both space and time implies that some fundamental characteristic of natural selection operates to produce and maintain sustained species.

Darwin’s finches are the symbols of evolution, he observed these birds during his voyage around the during the years 1831-1836. After this voyage, he changed his thinking about the new species origin. He observed that the shape of bird beaks changes from island to island. Cactus finches are more longer and more pointed than their relatives ground finches. Warbler finches are thinner and pointed than both. These are the adaptations that make these birds more fit to survive on available food. By molecular research of finches eggs, researchers observed that some genes are involved in shaping the beaks of Darwin finches.

The publication of Darwin’s book brought a “Darwinian Revolution. The publication of Darwin's "Origin of Species" led to changes in understanding at both scientific level and metaphysical level, his “one long argument” include the following lines.

1). The individuals within a species vary from one another: Not all the individuals in a species are identical. These differences in individuals allow the accumulation of natural selection.

2). Most of the variations among the individuals are heritable: Except the non-inheritable characters, all of the characters of individuals are heritable.

3). Organisms die if they exceed the carrying capacity: If the rate of reproduction of organisms exceeds the carrying capacity, some of the organisms die, this is known as “struggle for existence.”

If Darwin does not exist, some other natural biologists such as Alfred Russel Wallace might have proposed the similar theories. But it may took too many years to play a significant role in the development of scientific theories.