Charles Darwin and the Development and impact of t Essays

Charles Darwin and the Development and impact of t Essays Charles Darwin and the Development and impact of the Theory of Evolution by Natural and Sexual Selection Introduction It is commonly thought today that the theory of evolution originated from Darwin in the nineteenth century. However, the idea that species mutate over time has been around for a long time in one form or another. Therefore, by Darwins time the idea that species change from one type into another was by no means new, but was rejected by most because the proponents of evolution could not come up with a satisfactory mechanism that would explain this change. The most influential evolutionary theories prior to Darwin were those of Lamarck and Geoffroy St. Hilaire, developed between 1794 and 1830. Lamarck suggested that species evolve through the use or disuse of particular organs. In the classic example a giraffe that stretches its neck slightly to reach higher leaves will gain in neck length, and this small gain would be passed on to its offspring. Geoffroy, on the other hand suggested that the change was discontinuous, large in magnitude, and occurred at the production of offspring. However, these theories of evolution were based on a priori explanations that offered no demonstrated mechanism. Darwins theory of evolution differs in that it is based on three easily verified observations. First, individuals within a species vary from one another in morphology, physiology, and behavior. Second, variation is in some part heritable so that variant forms have offspring that resemble them. Third, different variants leave different number of offspring. Darwin than proceeded to elaborate on the mechanism of evolution by suggesting that in the universal struggle for life, nature selects those individuals who are best suited (fittest) for the struggle, and these individuals in turn reproduce more than those who are less fit, thus changing the composition of the population. In addition to natural selection, Darwin also suggested that species also evolve through the complementary process of sexual selection. According to Darwin, in sexual selection, one gender of a species develops a preference for individuals of the other gender who possess certain features. The individuals who possess these features will than have a reproductive advantage over others, resulting in a greater number of offspring, and thus, again, a change in the composition of the population. Therefore, it was Darwin who made the theory of evolution feasible by providing the mechanisms of natural and sexual selection. Darwins Formative Years Charles Darwin was born in England in 1809 and belonged to a wealthy and respectable family. His grandfather, Erasamus Darwin, was a noted botanical expert in his day who published two important books, Zoonomia, and the Botanic Garden. In these books, Erasamus speculated about various evolutionary ideas that were dismissed as too radical (i.e., the nose of the swine has become hard for the purpose of turning up the soil in search of insects and roots). Darwin who in his youth read his grandfathers books with admiration, later commented that his grandfather anticipated the views and erroneous grounds of opinion of Lamarck. Nevertheless, Erasamus may have unconsciously influenced Darwin in preparing the way for evolution by natural selection. In 1818, at the age of 9, Darwin entered the Shrewsbury school, which was ran by Dr. Butler. Darwin later recalled that nothing could have been worse for the development of my mind than Dr. Butlers school, as it was strictly classical, nothing else being taught , except a little ancient geography and history. The school as a means of education to me was simply a blank. He was removed from the school in 1825, and was sent to Edinburgh to study medicine. There he studied for two years before deciding that he didnt like medicine. But before he left Edinburgh, he was introduced for the first time to the theories of Lamarck. According to Darwin at the time he was not very impressed with Lamarcks ideas. In 1828, at his fathers suggestion, Darwin entered Christs College in Cambridge to become a clergyman. To Darwin a good education meant instruction in the methods and logic of thought. Therefore, Just about the only thing he enjoyed studying there was Paleys works on theology, because of their logic. For the rest, however, he judged Cambridge

Worst Super Glue Accidents

Worst Super Glue Accidents Super glue is an amazing adhesive. Its so amazing that its easy to accidentally glue something you didnt want glued! Have you ever super glued something by mistake or even meant to glue it and then regretted it? What did you end up doing to fix the problem? I asked readers to share their stories. Here is what they wrote... Awkward I remember this one time I was sitting next to my friend in science class, Justin, and I smashed a glass container. My teacher gave me super glue because apparently they were low on glass test tubes so I had to glue it back together, but what I didnt realize is that I had glue on my hands and when I reached to put the glass test tube back in the tray I accidentally touched my friends hand. I dont know why but we literally couldnt move our hands apart so because I was embarrassed to tell a teacher about it, I had to sit through 3 classes (1 hour each) with my hand stuck to Justins. After that we had to walk to my house, un-stick our hands and then Justin had to walk home. The next day was so awkward. - Amy Thaitene Going Crazy Glued My Teeth About 6 months ago I did the worst thing Ive ever done to my body I super glued my teeth nothing actually happened or I didnt really notice but the last month I started with the little peeling and now I noticed that my 80 percent of my teeth covered in a layer of glue. I have never experienced anything like this in my life and it is hell. - super tethed How to Remove Super Glue from Other Stuff Usually you should apply acetone to a cotton ball and apply to the doorknob areas where they are glued. Then wait a bit. The acetone should seep through the closed spaces and remove it so you can pop it off. - Alison Super Glue Issue I used a super glue type product to glue the temp control knob in my car that came off. Now the knob wont turn at all. How can I pop the knob off, even though it has been super glued? - Guest Jeff Franklin Carpet vs Hardwood Our 3 year old daughter glued our pet cats paws to the carpet so that he would stay! Thank goodness it simply took a few snips of the scissors to free Smokey. - Shes2cute Pants, Man! Literally half an hour ago I was super gluing together my broken binder and the glue was being stubborn, so I squeezed a little harder and half of the tube came out and instantly dried - on my pants. It soaked through and stuck to my leg, so Im now trying to do the whole mayonnaise thing because I have mayo. Hope it works. - juantacos Nail Fail Attempting to glue on falsies. All going well put the glue on the then I went to put it on my finger, but I had glued it to my fingers from holding it wrong then pulled it off. Glue went all over my face. Scared me half to death. Hurt so much! - noname Lol I hate super glue. Never used it but Im scared so I wear full protection. - lol Super Glued My Eye In a college art class I couldnt get the superglue out of the tube so squeezed it real hard and it shot up into my eye. I pried my eye until it opened up again and work at getting the glue of the skin and lashes. It was hard though because it was also caked all over my fingers. Luckily I think I must have blinked my eyes just as it hit my eye because it seemed to only be on the outside. I ripped some eyelashes out and had to wait and work at the glue for it all to come off. But after that experience, I feel pretty stupid, who gets super glue in their eye in college? - johannanow Mayonnaise NOT Acetone I glued 3 fingers with Super Glue! Soak fingers in a bowl of mayonnaise for 20 minutes and the glue will crystallize and crumble off. No fuss, no muss... no acetone! - Papa J Pepper I JUST GOT SOME SUPERGLUE ON MY FINGER (DIDNT KNOW IT WAS ON THERE). ANYWAY, PUT MY FINGER NEXT TO MY NOSE, AND. OF COURSE IT LANDED ON MY FACE WHICH WE ALL KNOW IT DRIED QUICKLY. YOU KNOW WHAT I GOT IT OFF WITH I PUT SOME SIMPLE VASELINE ON IT AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN I RUBBED IT BRISKLY AND IT CAME RIGHT OFF! THATS MY INVENTION FOR THE DAY! - JC Super Glue Prevention to Get Smeared Prevention to get smeared by Super Glue is better than for the exercises for removal. Apply generously any edible oil (cooking oil) -groundnut/peanut/sunflower/soybean whatever is available on both of you hands and wait for a few minutes. Wipe of you hands with waste cotton/cloth/tissue paper. use safety goggle/zero glass to protect your eyes. Super glue will not stubbornly act on your skin. You can wash off your hand with any soap and warm water. - D.K.Sarkar Never Using Super Glue Again I squirted super glued my eye years back when I was trying to fix a split in a manicured finger nail. The glue wouldnt come out of the tube (it was like a toothpaste tube), so I gave the tube a good squeeze. The came squirting out the back, crimped end and into one of my eyes and under it. It stung and my first thought was will I be blinded? Luckily, my tearing eye cleared away the glue that was on my eye ball, but I could not get the glue from the skin under my eye without very gently using nail polish remover and a cotton swab multiple times over a couple of days and it looked like I had a wrinkled rash under the eye until I get the last of it off. - ShelleyElmblad The Things We Do for Beauty... Yes, Ill admit it. I did super glue my eyeball. Actually, it was the cyanoacrylate glue that comes with single false eyelashes. My aim was not so great and I stuck an eyelash to my eyeball. I know, it sounds horrible, but it wasnt so bad. The glue did sting a little, but it loosened on its own in a couple of minutes. I wouldnt recommend it though. - gemdragon