Evolution

Objectives

• To define evolution
• To contrast the theories of Lamarck and Darwin
• To explore how evolution works within nature

Although some support the theory of creationism, physical anthropology rests on the principles of evolution.  This section of the course does not seek to change anyone's theological viewpoints.  A better understanding of evolution will support your understanding of the way that Anthropologists work and how they have determined the history of the human being.  We can discuss this further in class if there are differences in opinion, but it must be a respectful discussion as everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.  Remember that we are studying the larger view of the human species and not the micro view of the individual.

Please look at Dennis O'Leary's tutorial on evolution and watch the shorter clips today. 

Today we will discuss the conflicting theories presented by Lamarck and Darwin, the problems presented by Lamarck and look at examples of how natural selection operates in the natural world.



                                            

How did Giraffes become long-necked?

Read the Handout about Lamarck and answer the questions in groups of two or three.

Read the Handout about Darwin and answer the questions in groups of two or three.

Finally, take a stab at describing how each animal evolved according to Darwinian theory on the last Handout.


For extra credit, please read the following links about the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 and briefly present a summary of the case and why it was important, either in writing, presentation to the class or privately to me!

The Scopes Monkey Trial
NPR's remembering the Scopes Monkey Trial
Darrow's examination of Bryan

Cosmic Calendar

Objectives

• To gain a perspective of the concept of time
• To study universal history from the moment of creation
• To use mathematical skills to determine cosmic perspective

Time is one of the most difficult concepts for anyone to comprehend.  Children can't comprehend even the most basic of concepts such as yesterday and today and tomorrow, let alone next year or "one hundred years ago".  When we, as adults, begin to talk about billions of years, well our minds are blown!  We just have no context for that many years.  Notes.

Carl Sagan, the famous astronomer, tried to make this concept more manageable by fitting the history of the universe into a year's time. 

Today, we'll use a formula to calculate the key events of earth's history and place them on a calendar.

Think about the school year.  How many days until the next vacation?... the end of the semester?... the end of the school year?....your birthday?  So we'll be trying to place the events of the earth's formation and evolution onto the calendar of a year.

How and when do you think the universe began?  How long ago do you think the first living organism came into being?  How about the first human?

Use the following formula         difference in years x 1 day/12,345,670 years = #days
and then plug the #days into timeanddate.com to determine the day of the year.  I'll give you a more detailed worksheet.

List the events on the calendar.  Try a few together, and then split the rest up amongst yourselves.

What have you concluded about the history of earth?  Is time necessary for evolution to occur?  If so, how much time in the span of 4.5 billion years.

Read this tutorial.