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Carl Linnaeus
-Carl Linnaeus (born in 1707) created the first two part system of naming organisms in 1735. He adopted a classification system grouping similar species into general categories.
-He believed that the creation of new species was possible but limited.
-This theory could help isolate other variables in Darwin's theory, which could help him understand evolution and natural selection better. -
Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon
-Buffon believed that species change over time, and this made us believe animals can share a common ancestor.
-His technique of comparing similar structures across different species called comparative anatomy is used today.
-Darwin used his ideas on ''lost species'' and related them to fossils. -
James Hutton
-He made important contributions to geology.
-He was the first person to propose a mechanism of natural selection to account for evolutionary change over time.
-His research fast-tracked Darwin's theory. -
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
-He believed that living things evolved in a continuously upward direction. That parents would pass down traits that they acquired throughout their lifetime.
-Lamarck's and Darwin's theories are quite different but Darwin used this information to prove his theory right. -
Thomas Robert Malthus
-He made observations that the human race would most likely produce more offspring than the population can support.
-His work helped inspire Darwin to refine natural selection, stating a reason for competition between the same species. -
George Cuvier
-He recognized that deeper strata of rock result in older fossils.
-He saw gaps in the fossils as mass extinction events which led him to the theory of catastrophism.
-His work on extinctions were incorporated into Darwin's theory of natural selection and survival of the fittest. -
Charles Lyell
-He argued that the transformation of the Earth took place through small changes. His uniformitarian proposal was that the forces molding the planet today, have operated continuously throughout history.
-Lyell thought the Earth was older than we believed.
-Darwin took Lyell's book ''Principles of Geology" with him on the HMS Beagle -
Charles Darwin
-Charles Darwin is mostly credited for the theory of evolution since he gathered all the information and pieced them together.
-Darwin defined evolution as ''descent with modification'' the idea was that species change over time, give rise to a new species and share a common ancestor.
-Theory of biological evolution developed with Darwin, stating that all species develop though the natural selection of inherited variations that help the species ability to survive and reproduce. -
Alfred Russell Wallace
-Darwin and Wallace agreed in natural selection but disagreed on the power of it. Darwin believed natural selection is most extensive but not exclusive of modification where as Wallace believed natural selection is more strict.
-They co-developed the theory of natural selection and evolution.
