Charles Darwin : Naturalist and father of evolution
|
Dr N Munal Meitei
Contd from previous issue
For example, people living in tropical countries have more melanin in their body to guard them from the daylight.
Darwin came about Reverend Thomas Malthus’ work on population in 1838, which states that with the human population increasing at a rate significantly higher than that of the most optimistic rate for the growth of resources, the human race would eventually end up competing with each other for food in order to survive. From this, Darwin concluded that the competition for limited resources predicted for the human race could also be applied to animal and plant species as well. In his work, he demonstrated that earthworms are key ecological agents, natural power-tillers and transforming the soil and landscapes over geological time.
Much of the scientific community of 19th century, rejected Darwin’s theory, mainly on the basis of his theory being too dependent upon chance events. With the focus of science having moved from uncertainty to certainty, any scientist would need to provide a rigid conclusion that could be supported by hard evidence to get the acceptance of others. Many scientists felt Darwin failed to do so, and that his theory of evolution was established on a number of assumptions.
But in 1909, more than 400 scientists and dignitaries from 167 countries met in Cambridge to honour Darwin's contributions and discussed vigorously the recent discoveries and related theories contesting for acceptance. Darwin’s research fundamentally changed how we perceive the environment, transitioning from a view of nature as static to one of constant, slow change driven by interaction with surroundings.
Darwin is still considered as one of the greatest contributors to the field of Biology and Environment. His revolutionary theory of evolution by natural selection allowed people to break free from the traditional belief of special creation. It also gave the opportunity to build on a purely scientific foundation. We assume the fact that Darwinian school of thought is the best in theory of Evolution. The writer is DFO/Chandel and can be reached at [email protected]
Contd from previous issue
For example, people living in tropical countries have more melanin in their body to guard them from the daylight.
Darwin came about Reverend Thomas Malthus’ work on population in 1838, which states that with the human population increasing at a rate significantly higher than that of the most optimistic rate for the growth of resources, the human race would eventually end up competing with each other for food in order to survive. From this, Darwin concluded that the competition for limited resources predicted for the human race could also be applied to animal and plant species as well. In his work, he demonstrated that earthworms are key ecological agents, natural power-tillers and transforming the soil and landscapes over geological time.
Much of the scientific community of 19th century, rejected Darwin’s theory, mainly on the basis of his theory being too dependent upon chance events. With the focus of science having moved from uncertainty to certainty, any scientist would need to provide a rigid conclusion that could be supported by hard evidence to get the acceptance of others. Many scientists felt Darwin failed to do so, and that his theory of evolution was established on a number of assumptions.
But in 1909, more than 400 scientists and dignitaries from 167 countries met in Cambridge to honour Darwin's contributions and discussed vigorously the recent discoveries and related theories contesting for acceptance. Darwin’s research fundamentally changed how we perceive the environment, transitioning from a view of nature as static to one of constant, slow change driven by interaction with surroundings.
Darwin is still considered as one of the greatest contributors to the field of Biology and Environment. His revolutionary theory of evolution by natural selection allowed people to break free from the traditional belief of special creation. It also gave the opportunity to build on a purely scientific foundation. We assume the fact that Darwinian school of thought is the best in theory of Evolution. The writer is DFO/Chandel and can be reached at [email protected]