(Nov. 24th, 2009) Exactly 150 years ago, on 24th November 1859, Darwin’s The Origin of Species was published. Until today, many regard it as one of the most influential books of all time. However, why do scientists celebrate it to such an extent to-date?
Is it only because in The Origin of Species Darwin clearly demonstrated that species are no fixed creations but constantly change over time by descent with modification and subsequent natural selection? Together with the notion that it provides an at least reasonably painless read (although written in a hurry, as we know). Yes, of course! But what exactly is the impact of Darwin’s insights on biological sciences today?
Well, many agree that at the heart of good science is not so much giving answers but rather finding good questions. Up until Darwin, biology was only able to pose “What”, “Where” and “How” questions. Darwin’s theory, outlined in The Origin of Species, that species evolve and thereby adapt to changing environments, however, directly implicated that every biological structure and every biological system is not only what it is but, furthermore, represents two things: a biological problem and a way the problem has been solved. Therefore, Darwin’s insights for the first time provided a sound basis on which to ask “Why” questions. And these have since proven to be the most interesting and fruitful ones in biology and even medicine. Why do we sexually reproduce? Why are we conscious beings? Why do pathogens become resistant to drugs?...
The number of good questions that Darwin’s theory opened up is innumerable. And that’s why we will probably still be celebrating him and his book in another hundred years.
Ralf Neumann
(All editions of The Origin of Species as well as translations into German, French, Dutch, Polish, Russian and Spanish online at http://darwin-online.org.uk/.)