Annabel Poynter explores Charles Darwin’s impact on biology and his outreach into other fields. She discusses Darwin and his controversies whilst highlighting his lesser known ventures and the man he really was.
What is Charles Darwin Day?
International Charles Darwin Day falls on the 12th of February, the famed naturalist's own birthday. Yet, more than 140 years after his death, why does this day hold such significance? According to the official Darwin Day website, the ‘mission’ of Darwin Day is ‘to inspire people throughout the globe to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity, scientific thinking, and hunger for truth as embodied in Charles Darwin’. So why is Darwin so passionately revered and what work had such impact that it inspired an international holiday?
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons, Portrait of Charles Darwin by Herbert Rose Barraud (1881)
Who was Charles Darwin?
Charles Darwin is widely considered to be one of the most influential biologists of all time!
He lived from 1809-1882, spending his years devoted to the study of nature and more specifically evolutionary biology. His pioneering work in evolutionary biology, particularly his theory of natural selection, radically transformed how we understand the natural world. Darwin's groundbreaking ideas not only revolutionised biology but also extended their reach into fields such as psychology, anthropology, and even sociology.
While his contributions have earned him widespread reverence, Darwin's work has also been the subject of intense debate and controversy. His theory challenged existing religious and societal beliefs, sparking public outrage and ongoing criticism. Even today, his ideas are scrutinized by some, questioning aspects of his research and its implications. Does Darwin's fame overshadow flaws or limitations in his theorem, or are these criticisms just for criticisms’ sake?
Darwin's contributions to Biology
Charles Darwin is most renowned for his groundbreaking studies and theories in evolutionary biology. His proposition that all life originated from a single common ancestor is now universally accepted and considered a foundational scientific principle. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is built upon four key principles:
Natural Selection – ‘Survival of the fittest’
Genetic Variation
Heritable Traits
Evolutionary Change
But what do these principles really mean?
Essentially, Darwin's Theory suggests that variation in a species’ genetic makeup causes some individuals to possess traits that are more advantageous for survival in their environment. These organisms are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on these beneficial traits to their offspring, who go on to reproduce as well. Over time, this leads to genetic shifts within a population, what we now recognise as evolutionary change.
Some of Darwin's most famous studie, such as his research on finches on the Galapagos islands, demonstrate these concepts. Darwin was fascinated by how the finches beaks were specifically adapted to different food sources, exhibiting how his theory of natural selection can shape diverse traits within a species in response to the environment. A common example of this, is seen in the peppered moth with rapid and drastic changes in a population. Darker coloured moths became more prevalent due to camouflage with the pollution darkened tree trunks as a result of the industrial revolution.
This theory changed the way we look at organisms and our connection to the world around us. While evolutionary science has advanced significantly since Darwin’s time, the fundamental principles he laid out remain central to our research and understanding of biology today.
Image Credits: Wikimedia commons , Illustration of Darwin’s finches (Galapagos finches)
Darwin’s Contributions to Psychology
While Charles Darwin is primarily known for his work in biology, his contributions to psychology are often overlooked. Darwin’s studies in psychology focused on human and animal facial expressions and how they relate to emotions. He compared expressions between animals and humans to further support his theories on heritable traits, examining the muscles used by chimpanzees when expressing a range of emotions and drawing parallels to human expressions. Some interesting examples he noted, are pursing lips during concentration and mouths hanging agape when listening intently!
Darwin’s work ‘The Expressions of the Emotions in Man and Animals’ even included illustrations of apes smiling after being stroked as shown in the image below.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons A crested black Macaque, pleased after being caressed. Drawn by Joseph Wolf 1820-1899
‘The Expressions’ played a pivotal role in introducing photographic evidence into scientific research. The photographs included in the book highlight some of the earliest examples of attempts to capture motion for scientific analysis!
Darwin’s work was an ode to the intersection of arts, science, and social science. Both the in Darwin’s time and today, the arts and sciences are often seen as separate domains, with enthusiasts of each sometimes feeling the need to diminish the other. ‘The Expressions’, along with much of Darwin’s other work, included illustrations and photographs, borrowing from psychology to expand upon his biological theories.This serves as an incredible example of how science, the arts, and social sciences have always worked together to evolve. Something we should really consider on Darwin Day!
Controversies
Despite Darwin’s radical biological advances, his work has been marred in controversy from the very beginning. During his lifetime, most of the criticism stemmed from a strictly religious society that rejected Darwin’s ideas on the origin of species, as this contradicted the traditional creationist narrative.
One notable critic was Fleeming Jenkin, a respected engineering professor whose ‘swamping argument’ challenged Darwin's ideas. While Jenkin’s argument was grounded in science, it was unfortunately framed with an extremely racist example, demonstrating how prejudiced thinking can distort scientific theory - an affliction in Darwin's own work. Despite these biases, Jenkin was correct about some of the details of Darwin’s work, which Darwin went on to publicly acknowledge. Today, scientists tend to focus on Darwin’s ‘big picture’ ideas, which continue to shape modern science, while acknowledging the flaws and prejudices present in his time.
As mentioned earlier, the prejudiced society that Darwin lived in often hindered his ability to connect his theories to real-life applications. For example, Darwin frequently overlooked the role of mate selection after initial mating. It did not seem to occur to him that female animals would have the agency to choose to mate with multiple males, and that the sperm would compete to fertilise the eggs in the reproductive tract. In a letter in 1882, Darwin expressed that he thought there was a “great difficulty” through the laws of inheritance for women to become a man’s intellectual equal.
Despite his efforts to prove the existence of heritable traits, Darwin's own biases created conflict within his theory. His misogynistic views led him to exclude the possibility that women could inherit the same intellectual capacities as men - an incorrect stereotype rooted in the discriminatory views of his time. This bias is also reflected in his views on other races. Darwin believed that European races were evolutionarily more advanced than others, a position based entirely on his own racist assumptions rather than scientific evidence!
On Darwin Day, we should reflect on science's more prejudiced past and use that reflection to fuel the fight for more inclusive scientific research. Even today, many studies are still primarily geared towards the able-bodied white male. For example, in a recent evaluation of clinical trials, 86% of participants were identified as white. A statistic that does not reflect on our diverse population, thus cannot be generalised across it.
The verdict on Charles Darwin
In conclusion, it's clear that Darwin’s impact is immense. He made scientific waves in his time, laying the foundations for modern evolutionary biology! However, his influence extends far beyond that. From his studies in photography and psychology to broader applications such as social Darwinism - a belief system that takes Darwin's scientific findings and applies them to society, suggesting people climb to the heights of society because they are innately superior. This theory of Social Darwinism has been used to justify harmful narratives such as racism, eugenics and imperialism.
Despite these misapplications, Darwin’s theory of evolution has also promoted empathy for our fellow organisms by highlighting how closely related we are to the animals around us. Although, some may scrutinise the details in Darwin’s theories or exploit his words to push discriminatory agendas, we can proudly celebrate Darwin Day by acknowledging the more controversial aspects of science’s past and using that reflection to fight for a brighter, more inclusive future in scientific research.
Darwin Day shouldn’t just be about the man. It should be about celebrating our connection to the animals around us and nurturing brave curiosity about our origins as a species. It presents an amazing chance to highlight today’s inspirational evolutionary biologists, who continue to build on Darwin’s legacy. For example, scientists at the Institute of Science Tokyo have developed a theoretical model that uncovers the dual role of organisms carrying extra genome copies in evolution! This is an incredible breakthrough that can offer new and exciting insight into evolutionary mechanisms and serves as just one example of how Darwin’s influence continues to inspire modern innovation that we can all be proud of.
About the Author: Annabel is a second year biology student at the University of York. She has a strong interest in wildlife ecology and animal behaviour, aspiring to learn everything there is to know about the world and how we can protect it.
Comments