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Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England on Feb 12, 1809. Darwin's work revolutionized the understanding of the natural world and laid the foundation for modern biology. A 5 year voyage around South America led to Darwin's studies of how species evolved over time. A few of his major accomplishments include the Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection. Prior to his death on April 4, 1882, he published many books that highlighted much of how we study genetics and biology today. -
Beagle Voyage
Darwin was invited aboard the HMS Beagle, a Royal Navy ship. The purpose of the 5 year voyage was to map the South American coastlines. During the voyage, Darwin made numerous important observations and collected vast amounts of specimens which laid the foundation for his groundbreaking work on natural selection. His experiences on this expedition greatly influenced his thinking and impacted our understanding of the natural world. -
On the Origin of Species
Darwin publishes his book On the Origin of Species. In this book, Darwin introduced the theory of evolution through natural selection. He proposed that species evolve over time through the process of natural selection, with individuals possessing advantageous traits being more likely to survive and reproduce. Darwin's view on evolution was that it is not the smartest nor the strongest that survive, rather the ability to adapt to changing environments. -
The Descent of Man is published
In The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, Darwin explored the theory of evolution and its implications for human beings. He discussed various topics, including the decent of human beings from lower species, indicating that humans had evolved over eons similar to every other species and that we are subject to the same natural laws of existence. Another topic in the book goes into sexual selection, discussing gender roles, mate choice, male-male competition. -
Insectivorous Plants
Continuing his work on natural selection and evolution, Darwin explored various species of carnivorous plants detailing their unique adaptations and mechanisms for capturing and digesting insects. Some experiments performed on the plants included stimulating them with air and feeding them meat. His focus was to determine how these types of plants adapt to such diverse environments. This was a significant contribution to the understanding of plant adaptation and evolution.