Lamarck and Natural Selection

In Our Time: Science

BBC

History

4.5 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 24 December 2003

⏱️ 57 minutes

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Summary

Melvyn Bragg discusses Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, the 18th century French scientist.Charles Darwin defined Natural Selection in On the Origin of Species, “Variations, however slight and from whatever cause proceeding, if they be in any degree profitable to the individuals of a species… will tend to the preservation of such individuals, and will generally be inherited by the offspring”. It was a simple idea that had instant recognition, “How extremely stupid not to have thought of that!” said T H Huxley. However, Darwin did not invent the idea of evolution and not everyone saw his ideas as original. The great geologist Charles Lyell repeatedly referred to “Lamarck’s theory as modified by Darwin”, Darwin complained to him, “I believe this way of putting the case is very injurious to its acceptance”. He desperately wanted to escape the shadow of this genuine scientific precursor and what has become known as the ‘Lamarckian Heresy’ has maintained a ghostly presence on the fringes of biology to this day.Who was Lamarck? How did Natural Selection escape from his shadow and gain acceptance from the scientific establishment? And has any evidence emerged that might challenge the elegant simplicity of Darwin’s big idea?With Sandy Knapp, Senior Botanist at the Natural History Museum, Steve Jones, Professor of Genetics in the Galton Laboratory at University College London and author of Almost Like a Whale: The Origin of Species Updated; Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Paleobiology at Cambridge University.

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0:00.0	Thanks for downloading the In Our Time podcast. For more details about In Our Time and for our terms of use, please go to BBC.co.uk.
0:10.0	I hope you enjoy the program.
0:12.0	Hello Charles Darwin defined natural selection in on the origin of species.
0:16.6	Variations, however slight and from whatever course proceeding, if they be in any degree profitable
0:21.8	to the individuals of a species will tend to the preservation
0:25.4	of such individuals and will generally be inherited by the offspring.
0:29.7	It was a simple idea that had instant recognition. How extremely stupid not to have thought of that, said
0:35.1	T. Huxley. However, Darwin didn't invent the idea of evolution and not everyone saw his ideas
0:40.5	as original. The great geologist Charles Lyle repeatedly referred to
0:44.4	Lamarck's theory as modified by Darwin. Darwin complained to him, I believe this
0:49.4	way put in the case is very injurious to its acceptance. He desperately wanted to escape the shadow of this
0:55.2	genuine scientific precursor and what's become known as the Lamarck in heresy has
1:00.0	maintained a ghostly presence on the fringes of biology to this day.
1:04.4	Who was Lamarck?
1:05.5	How did natural selection escape from his shadow and gain acceptance from the scientific establishment?
1:10.9	And has any evidence emerged that might challenge the elegant simplicity of Darwin's big idea.
1:16.0	With me to discuss natural selection is Steve Jones, Professor of Genetics in the Golden Laboratory at University College London,
1:22.0	an author of many books including Almost Like a Whale,
1:24.9	The Origin of Species Updated.
1:27.1	Sandy Knapp, Senior Botanist at the Natural History Museum,
1:30.4	and Simon Conway Morris, professor of Evolutionary Polyobiology at Cambridge University.
1:35.0	Sandinup, can you tell us about Le Mark, French botanists born in the middle of the 18th century and then...
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