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Sunday, May 22, 2011

I’ve said this before, Top Documentary Films is worthwhile website. Here’s the BBC’s “What Darwin Didn't Know,” narrated by Evolutionary biologist Prof. Armand Marie Leroi who reviews evolutionary theory since Darwin first published “On the Origin of Species” in 1859.


http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/what-darwin-didnt-know/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TopDocumentaryFilms+%28Top+Documentary+Films+-+Watch+Free+Documentaries+Online%29

This is an enjoyable overview of Darwinian evolution including brief discussions about the work of Gregor Mendel (unfortunately only a broad brush stroke on dominant genes) and Ronald Fisher (including a disturbing short clip on eugenics). Enjoyable discussions about Darwin’s famous doves, the peppered moth, Lake Malawi, and the eye.

Leroi says “It is precisely this sort of agreement between DNA and fossil evidence that makes the case for evolution so utterly compelling,” and reminds us that the only thing Darwin said with respect to human evolution was that, “Light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history.”