Question

Who is known as 'the Darwin of the 20 th century'? (a) Lamarck (b) Ernst Mayr (c) Carolus Linneaus (d) Robert May

Short answer

Ernst Mayr is known as 'the Darwin of the 20th century'. Therefore, the answer is (b) Ernst Mayr.

Step-by-step solution

Consider the statement

Read the question carefully. 'The Darwin of the 20th century' refers to a scientist whose work in the field of evolution and natural selection was influential in the same way that Charles Darwin's work was influential in the 19th century.

Explore Options

Examine the options. Each of these scientists have made significant contributions to biology, but we are looking specifically for someone who made significant contributions to the theory of evolution in the 20th century.

Determine the Correct Answer

Ernst Mayr is the best option. Mayr was a German-American biologist who played a central role in shaping the modern synthesis of evolutionary biology. His works were highly influential and he's often referred to as 'the Darwin of the 20th century'. Therefore, (b) Ernst Mayr is the right answer.

Key concepts

Ernst Mayr

Ernst Mayr is a towering figure in the field of evolutionary biology. Born in Germany in 1904, he was fascinated by the diversity of life from an early age. His work has been instrumental in providing insights into the processes of evolution. An ornithologist by training, Mayr significantly contributed to the understanding of species concepts and was a staunch proponent of the biological species concept.

What made Ernst Mayr stand out was his ability to interconnect different disciplines within biology, merging genetics, paleontology, systematics, and zoology into a coherent framework for understanding evolution. His extensive writings, particularly 'Systematics and the Origin of Species' from 1942, deeply influenced our perception of how populations evolve, and what mechanisms drive the formation of new species. He proposed the idea that geographical isolation is a key driver of speciation, hence contributing majorly to evolutionary theory.

Evolutionary Biology

Evolutionary biology is a subfield of biology which concerns the origin and descent of species, as well as their change, multiplication, and diversity over time. It's a cornerstone of modern biological understanding. The principle of evolution contends that life on earth has developed from a common ancestor and diversified through a process called descent with modification.

Central to evolutionary biology are mechanisms such as natural selection, genetic drift, mutations, and gene flow. This field of study not only involves understanding how genetic variations are passed on through generations but also deals with the factors that lead to the development of newer species and the extinction of others. Evolutionary biology impacts a wide range of areas, including ecology, behavior, and morphology.

Natural Selection

Natural selection is the process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This concept was first articulated by Charles Darwin and serves as the basis for evolution. It's crucial to understand that natural selection acts on existing variation within a population. Traits that confer an advantage in survival and reproduction will, over time, become more common in the gene pool.

Factors contributing to natural selection can be varied: climate changes, food resources, predators, and even mating patterns can influence an organism's ability to survive and reproduce. It's important to understand that natural selection does not 'strive' for perfection; it simply filters for what works best under current circumstances, which may not always be ideal solutions.

Modern Synthesis

The Modern Synthesis is a term used to describe the fusion of Mendelian genetics with Darwinian evolution, which took place between the 1930s and 1950s. It's considered a major milestone in evolutionary biology that provided a robust framework integrating various biological disciplines.

Key figures, including Ernst Mayr, Theodosius Dobzhansky, and Julian Huxley, among others, contributed to establishing the Modern Synthesis. This synergistic view of evolution reconciled the concept of natural selection with the inheritance of acquired traits and introduced a comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis of evolution. It addressed the roles of mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow in producing evolutionary change. The Modern Synthesis solidified the idea that evolution is gradual and population-based, emphasizing the slow, steady accumulation of small genetic changes filtered by natural selection over long periods.