What Darwin Didn't Know: The Modern Science of Evolution

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What Darwin Knew and Why It Still Matters
Episode overview
Retrace Darwin's path to his theory of evolution by natural selection, which appeared in his masterpiece The Origin of Species, published in 1859. Encounter collector Alfred Russel .. show full overview
1x2
Inheritance: Darwin's Missing Link
Episode overview
Missing from On the Origin of Species is any account of how traits pass from one generation to the next. Explore the work on genetic inheritance by Gregor Mendel, whose pioneering rules .. show full overview
1x3
Genome Mutations: Evolution's Raw Material
Episode overview
The arrival of genetics in the early 20th century addressed what Darwin did not know about inheritance, but there was more to uncover: how do genes function, and where do variations come .. show full overview
1x4
Gene Flow versus Natural Selection
Episode overview
Natural selection is not the only mechanism driving evolution. In this lecture, discover how the movement of individuals leads to gene flow between populations. Travel to the Galapagos .. show full overview
1x5
Geology and Genes: The Geography of Life
Episode overview
Trace the importance of geology in Darwin's thinking and his many observations that make sense only in light of the theory of plate tectonics, which was not developed until the 1960s. .. show full overview
1x6
Genetic Drift: When Evolution is Random
Episode overview
Explore how population bottlenecks and the founder effect lead to random changes in the frequency of genes, an independent mechanism of evolution known as as genetic drift. Darwin had an .. show full overview
1x7
Rapid Evolution within Species
Episode overview
Darwin thought evolution was an imperceptibly slow process, but it can happen remarkably quickly. Review Peter and Rosemary Grant's famous studies of Galapagos finches, along with the .. show full overview
1x8
Evolution in the Lab
Episode overview
One thing Darwin never anticipated was that evolution would be observed in the laboratory. In this lecture, analyze lab experiments that shed light on the minute details of evolution, .. show full overview
1x9
The Many Origins of Species
Episode overview
Despite its title, On the Origin of Species does not fully address how new species arise. Delve into this complex problem by investigating what a species is. Consider definitions based .. show full overview
1x10
Cambrian Explosion to Dinosaur Extinction
Episode overview
Darwin was puzzled by the sudden appearance of complex, diverse flora and fauna in the fossil record roughly 540 million years ago, a period known as the Cambrian explosion. And Darwin .. show full overview
1x11
Reconstructing the Tree of Life with DNA
Episode overview
Darwin envisioned the history of evolution as a great Tree of Life, in which all the branches are connected by ancestry. Explore the modern version of this idea, which has been .. show full overview
1x12
Human Evolution in all Directions
Episode overview
Zoom in on the branch of the Tree of Life that gave rise to our species. Fossil discoveries and insights from DNA have led researchers to abandon the iconic image of a linear progression .. show full overview
1x13
Evolution Doesn't Repeat, but it Rhymes
Episode overview
Convergent evolution occurs when natural selection causes different species to evolve in similar ways. Does this mean that evolution follows a predetermined path? Focus on the recent .. show full overview
1x14
The Evolution of Extreme Life
Episode overview
Life is even more adaptable than Darwin could have known. In this lecture, investigate extremophiles—organisms that flourish in extreme conditions. These have made biologists rethink the .. show full overview
1x15
Imperfect Nature: Ad Hoc Body Designs
Episode overview
While Darwin knew of inefficient anatomical features of humans and other animals, he didn’t consider these a distinct category of evidence for natural selection. Explore ad hoc body .. show full overview
1x16
The Sterile Worker Paradox
Episode overview
Why was Darwin afraid that ants might undermine his theory of natural selection? Delve into the sterile worker paradox: the puzzle of why ants and other “eusocial” species evolved to .. show full overview
1x17
Coevolution: Peace Accords and Arms Races
Episode overview
Darwin saw that natural selection not only leads to species that evolve to their mutual advantage, but to enemies that wage an evolutionary arms race that ends up benefiting both sides. .. show full overview
1x18
Microbiomes: Evolution with Small Partners
Episode overview
On the Origin of Species failed to account for a major part of the Tree of Life, namely bacteria and other microorganisms. These represent the original forms of life, and they have .. show full overview
1x19
The Evolution of Braisn and Behavior
Episode overview
In Darwin’s lifetime, comparisons between the brains of different species were restricted to examinations of anatomy alone. Today, researchers use genetic tools to gain deep insights .. show full overview
1x20
The Evolution of Sex and Parentig
Episode overview
Darwin devised his theory of sexual selection to explain many traits that can’t be understood through natural selection alone—from the peacock’s gaudy tail to the elaborate constructions .. show full overview
1x21
The Evolution of Aging and Death
Episode overview
Darwin's writings seem to imply that evolution through natural selection should always favor longer lifespans. So why don't we live forever (or at least for several centuries)? Consider .. show full overview
1x22
Evolutionary Medicine
Episode overview
Explore one of the ultimate applications of evolutionary principles: harnessing evolution to benefit human health. Study diseases such as malaria, AIDS, influenza, and cancer that evolve .. show full overview
1x23
Gene Editing and Directed Evolution
Episode overview
Darwin contrasted natural selection with artificial selection—the time-tested techniques for selective breeding that promote desired traits in plants and animals. See how far we’ve come .. show full overview
1x24
The Future of Human Evolution
Episode overview
What does the future hold? Will we evolve into new species? Or have we reached an optimum state that will see minimal evolutionary changes? Weigh the impact of our .. show full overview