“Paleontologists had long been aware of a seeming contradiction between Darwin's postulate of gradualism, confirmed by the work of population genetics, and the actual findings of paleontology. Following phyletic lines through time seemed to reveal only minimal gradual changes but no clear evidence for any change of a species into a different genus or for the gradual origin of an evolutionary novelty. Anything truly novel always seemed to appear quite abruptly in the fossil record.”
Quote by Ernst Mayr
Work
One Long Argument: Charles Darwin and the Genesis of Modern Evolutionary Thought
One Long Argument delves into the intellectual journey of Charles Darwin, tracing the evolution of his ideas and their impact on the scientific understanding of life's origins and diversity. The book provides a comprehensive look at Darwin's life, his observations, and the theories he formulated, offering insights into the genesis of modern evolutionary thought. more
Author
Ernst Mayr
German-American biologist and a pioneer in evolutionary biology, Ernst Mayr made significant contributions to the development of modern evolutionary theory. His research in systematics, speciation, and biological classification had a profound impact on the field. more
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