Darwin’s Early Life

Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Saarim and I am your host for episode #1 called Darwin’s Early Life. Today I will be discussing the early life, academia, and internal turmoil of English naturalist Charles Darwin, who is notable for his scientific theory of evolution by natural selection. We all know the name, Charles Darwin, and his idea that all living things developed and adapted overtime as a result of random mutations which gave these organisms traits suitable for their lifestyles. But how did he come up with this idea? The impacts of his theory are enormous as they really show us where all living things come from and the theory even created divisions in society amongst Darwinists/modernists and fundamentalists. But let's go all the way back to explore the origins of this theory.

Segment 1: Introduction to Darwin’s Early Life And Academia

• Talking about Darwin in Academia, his experiences in school, transition from medicine to religion, to naturalism and voyage on HMS Beagle, observations from trip/significance, and internal struggle deciding to publish work
• Credit New England Complex System Institute and Eric Guise’s AP Biology videos for the following info
• Darwin Info
• Born in Shrewsbury, England; attended Shrewsbury School
• Interested in nature since young age - beetle collection
• Father wanted him to be doctor - went to Edinburg Medical School - found lectures boring and couldn’t stand watching surgeries done without pain killers (left med school after 2 years)
• Father arranged from him to be priest/clergyman - earned bachelor of arts degree from Cambridge; continued interest in nature
• Became friends with two professors at Cambridge - geologist and John Henslow (botanist)
• Around the world sailing trip on HMS Beagle being arranged by Royal Navy - John Henslow recommended Darwin as the trips naturalist
• Darwin left for a 5 year journey - wrote down all his observations, etc.

Segment 2: Example of Darwin’s Observation During His Journey

• Brazil
• Visited tropical rainforest: great diversity - began thinking about diversity of life and the creation of different species
• Observed animals eating and chasing each other - animals struggled to survive

• Argentina
• Observed how the grass where the cattle grazed smaller than grass that cattle had been introduced with - idea of something allowing different types of grass to survive