HAPPY 200th BIRTHDAY!!!! Born: February 12, 1809 (the same day as Abraham Lincoln). Celebrations and events are being held around the world. It's also the 150th anniversary (in November) of the publication of The Origin of Species

Darwin 200 from the Natural History Museum, London, is a place to start to look for events

An understanding of evolution and the processes by which it occurs, is essential to understanding the complexity of the world around us, and how organisms interact. As Th. Dobzansky said, "nothing in biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution."

Charles Robert Darwin is arguably the most important figure in the history of biology, at least since Aristotle, for his contribution with Alfred Russell Wallace, of delineating a means by which evolution works through natural forces to shape organisms. This process, called natural selection, was outlined in a book published in 1859, On the Origin of Species by means of natural selection.

Many others tried to explain the natural differences among species, including Charles' grandfather, Erasumus Darwin. Charles Darwin was, however, the first to work out in careful detail how such changes could occur, and have a clear understanding of how slowly such changes accrue.

Though there is much debate among scientists about the particular forces acting upon organisms in particular situations, and about the pacing, or timing, of changes, there is little or no debate among biologists regarding the idea that natural selection, basically as outlined by Charles Darwin, is working on all organisms at all times.

Since C. Darwin also worked on pigeons, orchids and earthworms, among other things, you may find the occasional link to information on those topics here as well.

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Original content copyright 1995-2009 Robert B. Hole, Jr. All Rights Reserved

Page last revised: 19 April, 2009