Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Charles Darwin were...

Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Charles Darwin were two of the most notable evolutionary scientists in history. While Lamarck was known for his theory of inheritance by acquired characteristics, Darwin was also respectfully known for his theory of evolution by natural selection. While they did share some similar beliefs, they also disagreed on important aspects of evolution as well. The parallels and dissimilarities between the two theories can be highlighted by looking at the Trichobatrachus robustas, better known as the horror/hairy frog. The horror frog is native to the West coast area of Central Africa and belongs to the family Arthroleptidae. This frogs remarkable ability other than to grow hair on its body is to break the bones on their hind feet and to thrust a sharp claw through their skin. The claw is settled inside a mass of connective tissue. A chunk of collagen forms a bond between the claws sharp point and a small piece of bone at the tip of the frogs toe, (NewScientist, 2008). David Blackburn of Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology says that claws are not coated in keratin, like all other known claws in the vertebrae world, (Science Blogs, 2008). When the frog is threatened, they flex a muscle that connects to the lower half of the claw. This severs the connection to a nodule and pulls the claw downward. The claw which is made of reinforced and thickened bone, pierces the frog’s own skin and through the skin of the toe, (National Geographic, 2008). DavidShow MoreRelatedThe History of Darwi n’s Theory of Evolution980 Words   |  4 Pages Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution. (Dobzhanski, 1973) It was during his journey on board the Beagle that Darwin developed his theory of evolution. â€Å"On the Origin of Species† (Darwin, 1859) proposed two main principles: evolution really occurs and natural selection is its mechanism. This work published on 24th November 1859 traces a coherent portrait of life bringing together in an orderly manner an astonishing variety of apparently independent facts. It led biologistsRead MoreCharles Darwin Was Not the First to Develop a Theory of Evolution3779 Words   |  16 Pages From his theories that he claimed were developed during his voyage, Darwin eventually wrote his Origin of Species and Descent of Man, which exploded into the world market over twenty years after his return home. Wallace, King and Sanders wrote in Biosphere, The Realm of Life: In 1859, Charles Darwin published a theory of evolution that implied that humans evolved from apes. . .The Darwinian revolution was the greatest paradigm shift in the history of biology, and it greatly changed the wayRead MoreCharles Darwins Religious Beliefs2647 Words   |  11 PagesTerm Paper: Throughout history, many have inquired into Charles Darwin’s religious beliefs and have come up with a wide variety of answers. Why are his personal beliefs important when dealing with a matter of science that Darwin researched? Darwin excluded the question of a Creator from his works because it was irrelevant to his scientific research, and the debate regarding Darwin’s faith arises due to his conflicting accounts of his personal faith as well as the way his early childhood and teenageRead More2B study guide Essay7886 Words   |  32 Pagestransfer of heat between organism and surroundings c. Adaptation: structure or physiological process, or behavior, that occurs over several generations as an organism develops certain traits to better survive and reproduce in an environment; the evolutionary process that leads to the development of such trait. d. Acclimation: Process that can occur within one organism’s lifetime to adapt to an environment and can often be reversible, example: goldfish and water temperature adaptation. Long distanceRead MoreHerbert Spencer Essay13142 Words   |  53 Pages   |Biography: Herbert Spencer | Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was an English philosopher, scientist, engineer, and political economist. In his day his works were important in popularizing the concept of evolution and played an important part in the development of economics, political science, biology, and philosophy. Herbert Spencer was born in Derby on April 27, 1820. His childhood