Theory of Evolution

Bibliography

Period: Oct 1, 1700 to Oct 28, 2013

http://www.softschools.com/timelines/evolution_theory_timeline/98/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/evolutiontheories/theoriesofevolutionrev3.shtml
http://www.victorianweb.org/science/darwin/darwin4.html
http://www.victorianweb.org/science/cuvier.html
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/evotmline.html
http://atheism.about.com/od/aboutevolution/a/EvolutionChronology.htm
http://whyfiles.org/095evolution/5.html

Systema Naturae

Jan 1, 1735

Carolus Linnaeus, a scientist from Sweden, released a naming system of binomial nomenclature, naming species with two names, it was called Systema Naturae. An example would be homo sapien instead of human.

Study of Fossils

Oct 25, 1767

Birth of paleontology Georges Cuvier, scientist from France, He is known as the father of Paleontology. Another defining factors was his denial of any sort of evolutionary theory, by his study of the fossil record.

Theory of Gradualism

Oct 25, 1795

Gradualism was proposed in 1795 by James Hutton, a Scottish physician gradualism is a theory which states that profound change is the product of slow but continuous processes, His ideas were later joined with Charles Lyell's theory of uniformitarianism to make up the basis of the evolution theory.

An Essay on the Principle of Population

Oct 25, 1798

Thomas Malthus publishes the first edition of "An Essay on the Principle of Population." Darwin and Wallace used this book in development of the theory of natural selection.Malthus theorized that continued population growth would outgrow current resources.

First Theory of Evolution

Dec 28, 1809

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, a naturalist, published his theory of evolution. His theory was that evolution occurred through the inheritance of acquired characteristics, or the use/disuse theory.

Debate over Evolution

Jan 1, 1830

Cuvier argued instead that life was divided into four distinct embranchements (life-vertebrates, molluscs, articulates (insects & crustaceans), and radiates). This issue, which could support or contradict a theory of evolution, was part of the Cuvier/Geoffroy debate in 1830. This debate sparked discussion of evolution

Ideas of Uniformitarian

Oct 25, 1830

Charles Lyell publishes "Principles of Geology." This pushed a uniformitarian view of geology, or the theory that forces in the past are the same as forces in the present, and that we can use the forces present today to infer things about the past.

Charles Darwin Bgins Research

Dec 27, 1831

Charles Darwin joins the voyage of the HMS Beagle as a naturalist.

The Galapogas Islands

Sep 15, 1835

The HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin aboard, reaches Galapagos Islands.

Darwins Theory Begins to Form

Oct 25, 1844

Charles Darwin, writes his first essay on the theory of evolution, but it was never published.

Alfred Wallace publishes paper on Theory of Evolution

Oct 25, 1858

Alfred Wallace publishes a paper with similar ideas to Darwin including Natural Selection. This was good because because it made Darwin start to speed up his research.

Orgin of Species is Published

Oct 25, 1859

Darwin inishes his book "The Origin of Species" and publishes it. It becomes very popular.

Mendel's Pea Plants

Oct 25, 1865

Mendel's experiments with pea plants and specific mating are puplished providing more information on the idea of natural selection

Germ Cell Theory and Ideas on DNA

Oct 25, 1892

August Weismann publishes his work on how important DNA is to heredity, along with germ cell theory - the theory that inheritance only takes place by germ cells such as egg and sperm, and that other cells do not pass on their genes.

Idea of Chromosomes

Oct 25, 1903

Walter Sutton added to Mendels ideas saying chromosomes were the basis for Mendelian inheritance of characteristics.

DNA is Blueprint of Evolution

Oct 25, 1943

DNA is finally proven to be the genetic material by which inheritance passes from one generation to the next, and is the blueprint for evolution.

Double Helix Discovered

Oct 28, 1953

Francis Crick and James Watson discover the double-helix structure of DNA, unlocking heredity's "memory storage" mechanism. This allowed people to start studying the molecular biology of evolution.

Tree of Life

Oct 28, 1980

Scientistsstart to analyze DNA and RNA is used to map the tree of life.