100 must-read books for college students

Chapter 64 Science vs. God
Chapter 63 Science vs. God: "The Origin of Species"

"Origin of Species" mainly expresses two main contents: using the process of artificial selection to clarify the fact of biological evolution, and demonstrating the

Evolution is achieved by natural selection.Summarize the three elements of the theory of evolution: variation, heredity and selection.Darwin in "Matter
The theory put forward in "Origin of Species" that human beings evolved from apes shook the "God Creation Theory" and was violently attacked by the church at that time
.But attacks and slanders cannot destroy the value of "Origin of Species", which can be summed up by Charles Airend's words: "David
Erwin's works have profound impacts on the development of human thought, especially in biology, psychology, social science and so on.

Influence.The highest honor in the history of human science belongs to him. "

Exploration of Biological Evolution in the Practice of Natural Science

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was an outstanding British biologist in the 19th century and the founder of the theory of biological evolution. 1831～

In 1836, he took part in the round-the-world voyage of the Royal Academy "Beagle".Darwin in South America, Australia, South Pacific
A large number of specimens and fossils were collected from ocean islands and other places, which played a huge role in the formation of his species evolution thoughts. 1836

After returning to China, Darwin continued to collect data, conduct experiments, study biological evolution, and wrote drafts and first drafts one after another.

From 1837 to 1838, he wrote "The First Notebook on Species Change". Written in 1842 as the first outline of the theory of choice. 18
In 58, he read out his first draft at the Linna Society.

The Origin of Species by the Survival of the Fittest") was published in London and caused a strong response in academic circles, and a revised 1872th edition was published in 6

, and has been translated into many languages.Since then, Darwin has also published many biological works and received great honors. 1882 4
On April 19, the great natural scientist passed away.

It is no accident that Darwin's theory of evolution was born in England in the 19s.British bourgeois revolution, overthrow
It abolished the feudal system and cleared the way for the development of capitalism.The completion of the Industrial Revolution contributed to the prosperity of Britain.Plus
Darwin had the opportunity to take part in a round-the-world voyage himself.

Sea exploration, and the practice of raising animals and cultivating plants for a long time.Darwin conducted a series in the field of biology

The scientific summary has finally established a complete theory of biological evolution.The book "Origin of Species" is Darwin's creation of biological progress

Chemistry symbol.

genetic variation survival of the fittest

The main content of Darwin's "Origin of Species" is from the three aspects of heredity and variation, the struggle for survival, and natural selection.

Introduction, natural selection is the central idea of ​​a book.

Darwin affirmed the universality of variation.In nature, no two organisms are exactly the same, not only the offspring of the same organism
Individuals are different, even biological individuals of the same generation are different.This difference, this difference, is variation.

As for the cause of variation
Therefore, Darwin believed that there were three main factors:

First, the role of living conditions.Darwin divided the effects of living conditions into two types: those that directly affect the whole or part of living things
function, indirectly affects the function of the reproductive system.

Second, the use and non-use of organs.Darwin believed that the use or non-use of organs can have a marked effect on animals.

Third, related variation.Darwin believed that all the organs of an organism are closely related to each other during their growth and development.

connect.If any part is mutated and preserved, the other parts are also mutated.

Darwin further pointed out that organisms not only have variation, but also heredity, which is also an indisputable fact.flora and fauna

The body's internal
The external structure, the ability to reflect the outside world, and the traits are passed on to future generations to make their own species continue.Variation and heredity are closely linked

of.If the living conditions change, the heredity will change accordingly.If the living environment that causes biological variation is maintained for several
Generation after generation, the mutation will be preserved in the organisms of the offspring, and can even be consolidated and strengthened from generation to generation.biological

Variation and heredity, people raise and cultivate animals and plants artificially, and engage in artificial selection.

On the basis of heredity and variation theory, Darwin further put forward the theory of struggle for existence.The struggle for survival is the
an important way of transformation.Darwin divided the struggle for existence into three main forms:

First, the struggle between living things and the inorganic world.Dinosaurs that were once mighty have long been extinct, and the elephants that survive now are invincible

Beasts invade it, but it has never been able to spread all over the world.It turns out that the relationship between organisms and the climate and other environmental conditions in their own area
There are profound contradictions and struggles, and in this struggle, no matter how mighty a behemoth is, it is inevitable to die.whether it is stormy

In the years, or in the sunny days, the struggle between living things and the inorganic world always exists.Abnormal climate appears, more

intensified the struggle.In many environments with abnormal climates, only a very small number of biological species survived the struggle.

The climate is ever-changing. When the weather is suitable at this time, it will change suddenly at that time. In this way, a large number of living things will die.one part

Very fickle organisms, or are not suitable for survival in the original climate and are on the verge of extinction, but now become adaptive organisms to survive
Come.

Second, interspecies struggle.Animals must find food in order to survive.Weak animals often become some giants

main food.But weak animals, on the one hand, avoid predators, and on the other hand, they seek food that is weaker than themselves.

However, the strong eat the weak, and the big eat the small are only relative. Some animals have the ability to produce a large number of offspring to make up for the large number of individual deaths during their life.

Although some animals produce a small number of children, they have a set of clever methods of protecting eggs or larvae.Plants are also many animals
Material
For the main food, animals often struggle for their own survival, and the result of the struggle is often the survival of the fittest.

Those who are unwell end up dead.

In the plant world, interspecific struggles also exist.All kinds of plants growing in the same place compete with each other for fertilizer, water and glory.pregnancy
Plants with strong vitality are intertwined and dominate one side, while those with weak vitality survive tenaciously in another way.a lot

The increase in the number of seeds in the offspring is the result of interspecific struggles of some weak plants.

Third, intraspecies struggle.The big fish eats the small fish, which is an intraspecies struggle.According to Darwin, the most violent struggles almost always occur

Individuals of the same species, because they live in the same region, need the same food, and suffer the same threats.Darwin for example,

When two dogs are famished, they compete for food. The strong one will get a full meal, while the weak one will run away with its tail between its legs.so are plants

, Plants of the same species are planted close together in one place, competing with each other for fertilizer, water, and glory. In the end, strong seedlings grow green and grow green, while weak seedlings wither and die.Intraspecies

The result of the struggle plays an extremely important role in the differentiation of species, the divergence of characters, and the elimination of intermediate types.

The struggle between organisms and the inorganic world, inter-species struggle, and intra-species struggle has resulted in the continuous mass death of organisms and restrained the increase in geometric ratios.
increasing trend.However, the content of the struggle for existence is not only that, Darwin emphasized that I apply the struggle for existence

A noun is broad.

In domesticated animals and plants, people have bred many new varieties through long-term continuous selection of mutant individuals that are beneficial to humans.

In nature, in the extensive and complex struggle for survival, the variation that is beneficial to the organism itself is also continuously preserved, forming the

new species.This principle of survival of the fittest was called "natural selection" or "survival of the fittest" by Darwin.natural selection and

The difference between artificial selection is that the former is "selected for the benefit of the organisms it protects". , the latter being "human

Choose for one's own benefit". As far as the relationship between variation and natural selection is concerned, if there is no variation, natural selection cannot occur.
Variation is preserved by selection.Wherever and whenever the opportunity arises, natural selection will always

It is the careful scrutiny of even the slightest variation, the rejection of the bad, the preservation of the good and the accumulation of them
Get up, improve and improve the relationship between various organisms and their living environment (organic and inorganic) unconsciously.

Why does natural selection happen?Because of the struggle for survival (competition for survival) between living things.The struggle for existence, said Darwin, is

used in the sense that it encompasses the relationship of this organism to that, but more importantly the preservation of individual life and its capabilities
success in leaving offspring; every living being struggles for survival, for reproduction, and for the survival of its offspring.The struggle for survival includes intraspecific

Struggle and interspecies struggle, and the struggle against unfavorable living environment are also one of its meanings.All living organisms are in intense life

in competition.

are acquired by organisms as a result of the struggle for survival
The variation beneficial to oneself makes it preserved and passed on to the offspring, so the offspring have a better chance of survival, by
From this arise varieties or incipient species which in turn form well distinct species.

Darwin introduced the Malthusian theory of population into the struggle for existence.He said that every living thing has a high rate of growth that is geometric progression
tendency to grow.

Those who adapt and win survive, while those who do not adapt and lose are eliminated and eliminated.

This is "a law without exception" in nature.

Shocking the theological world and laying the foundation of biology

The publication of "Origin of Species" was one of the most important events in the history of natural science, because it became the most important issue of the vast majority of learned scholars in the 19th century.

It is the beginning of people's transformation of worldview.Darwin discovered the law of development of the organic world on the earth we live on, thus

Overthrew the "creationism", "species invariance theory" and other unconnected, accidental, God-created, unchanging views
point, for the first time put biology on an entirely scientific basis.It goes without saying that what it brought to the society at that time was like a thunderbolt.
Shock.

Marx and Engels spoke highly of Darwin's work, and hailed his theory of evolution as the most important natural science in the 19th century.

One of the three great discoveries in science.

During Darwin's lifetime, "The Origin of Species" was printed in six editions, which shows its huge historical influence.Darwin's theory of evolution

The first fatal blow to teleology in the natural sciences; "The Origin of Species" dropped like a bomb on "God
In the heart of the academic position", it aroused extreme panic and fury in the whole world, especially in the British conservative forces and religious theological forces.

, and, at the same time, greatly inspired all progressive endeavors in favor of science, and laid the foundations for the further development of the biological sciences
.

(End of this chapter)