Ernst Mayr (Mayr 1985) described the ‘Darwinian Paradigm’ as consisting of five theories: common descent, descent with modification, gradualism, multiplication of species and natural selection. Answer ALL of a, b and c
Briefly outline each of the theories to which Mayr referred.
Not all the ideas captured in Mayr’s list originated in the works of Charles Darwin; rather some of them had already been discussed by others. Identify the key novel contributions of Darwin, and explain the background to the ones with earlier sources.
19th century criticisms of Darwin’s ideas included the ‘problem of inheritance’, gaps in the fossil record and the age of the earth. Briefly describe each of the criticisms, and explain how they were dispelled by the ‘evolutionary synthesis’ and other scientific developments in the 20th century.