>Liz Craig:
>
>>Some people have been
>>troubled by what they see as religious and
>>sociological implications in it. But Darwin avoided
>>such speculations. He was not a theologian or a
>>sociologist, but merely a scientist seeking to know
>>how the world's incredible variety of plant and animal
>>life came about.
MikeBGene quotes:
>"At some future time, not very distant as measured by centuries, the
>civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace
>throughout the world the savage races. At the same time the
>anthropomorphous apes... will not doubt be exterminated. The break will
>then be rendered wider, for it will intervene between man in a more
>civilised state, as we may hope, than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as
>the baboon, instead of as at present between the negro or Australian and the
>gorilla. Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man, p. 201 (Princeton University
>Press 1981).
This isn't much of a surprise (and quite well known). He was a man of his
times. He was also quite anti-slavery and fell out with (Captain) over it.
>Just studying plants and animals, eh?
>
>>Because of his [Darwin] work, we have
>>learned of the interconnectedness of life on earth,
>>advanced to new frontiers of knowledge in medicine and
>>technology, discovered DNA and mapped the human
>>genome. The adventure he began in the 19th century
>>continues in the 21st, as we explore new ways to
>>improve health and quality of life.
>
>Darwin's work did indeed help us to learn the interconnectedness
>of life on earth. But it has nothing whatsoever to do with discovering
>DNA or mapping the human genome. And it has contributed very little
>to advances in medicine and technology. Like most romantic
>revisionists, Craig is seriously confused.
Darwin's theory led to the rediscovery of genes because it was one of the
weaknesses of his theory. There was *no* mechanism. So a lot of research
went into hunting for the mechanism. Science is an inter-linking chain.
Darwin > genetics > DNA > human genome project, etc. Also the Center for
Disease Control would be in deep doo-doo without a knowledge of mutation
and natural selection. Why do you think you have to take a flu shot *every*
year? Because the viruses mutate and evolve. Why does the doctor tell you
to take *all* the antiobitics? Because you don't want to evolve your own
personal super-bug. Why do they constantly try to come up with new
pesticides? Darwin's little theory again.
Susan
Susan
----------
For if there is a sin against life, it consists not so much in despairing
of life as in hoping for another and in eluding the implacable grandeur of
this one.
--Albert Camus
http://www.telepath.com/susanb/
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