A Small History of Big Evolutionary Ideas - Robin May

This was a wonderful lecture to listen to. I enjoyed its interesting content as well as the very fair and engaging professor.

One thing I never see addressed in evolution is that "Random mutations" doesn't mean "Rare" Most mutations in genetics are not really noticeable. Mutations maintain the spread of variation in a trait, they don't drive evolution. Natural selection acts on the variation to guide evolution. Survival of the fittest is on a species level, not the individual level Knowing that most animals that die, do not result in fossils, I believe that extinction may not be as common as seem to be thought. Rather that extinction, one species evolved into another without leaving fossils. WRT the wing of a bird, it would help a reptile jump further even when it was just a flatten limb. As it evolved, the species would be able to glide further and further until it could keep itself of the ground completely..

سخنرانی خردمندانه و تاثیرگذاری است . سپاسگزار کوشش روزانه ی شما برای فکر کردن منتقدانه هستم .

With the 'evolution' of medicine and growth of hospitals the percentage of offspring surviving to adulthood has dramatically increased. Some of the diseases overcome are infective, measles etc, but some ailments are inherited and if fatal, or disabling, they probably wouldn't be passed on. The question I pose is does the system of healthcare in our society have a double edge in that some traits that would be bred out with natural evolution be more present in the future due to the amazing medical care available. Our modern societies have different needs than the preceding medieval ones, for example, where a strong lad who could plough all day or defend his community stoutly would be highly valued whereas today those characteristics are less needed than say abilities with computer programming etc. And healthcare is allowing those with physical weaknesses to survive, with perhaps continued medical help throughout their lives. How will this affect the evolution of humanity? Will populations need more medical help to survive; go to any surgery and you will see ever increasing numbers leave with carrier bags full of medications; unheard of when I was a child. A case could be made that in the past there were no treatments available for some ailments, certainly less so in the case of many cancers. It's a conundrum, with both ethical and moral implications that are not easily resolved.

Not far into the lecture yet: what about Gregor Mendel?😊

Is the same Galton of the Galton board?

Thank you for enlightening me on the origin of eugenics. An idea that has been destructive for a century and still influential. My ability to recognise the misunderstanding of others, and to offer a simple alternative has been improved . I’m very grateful. I came to Gresham’s YouTube channel, hoping to deepen my understanding of Cosmology. I stayed, subscribed and have been treated with knowledge that is responsible, respectful, rewarding, entertaining and trustworthy. Thank you. PS. If Gresham’s YouTube channel had a Donate Button, I would occasionally donate. If Gresham had YouTube Memberships, I would probably join.

John Hunter described an e evolutionary theory very similar to Darwin's about 100 years prior

38:00 (ish) so you're saying that the worker bees know (how? do they understand math? statistics?) it's more advantageous to take care of their siblings instead of the queen?

Scientifically speaking, adaptation plays a pivotal role in the process of evolution itself. I desire to pinpoint, that life originated long ago in waters, fish scales was a predecessor of human skin. Amphibia fins gradually transformed into human leg. Brain size augmented with a hand of time. Crucially, horses species improved to a modern types. Finally, fashion and garments altered. In brief, it is just a few examples. Some of the are only surmises. How fine and tremendously interesting to discover novelty about nature and living creatures.. Sheer joy!

Fab stuff. Thank you!

The talk would've been better had the speaker spoken a little slowly. The organizers who had definitely planned to upload the video on the Web should've advised him to do so. He also should've known in the Web he was addressing not just the people of his native country, but of the whole world. I think he should listen to Prof David Crystal before giving his next talk that's meant to uploaded on to the Internet. I want to listen more of his lectures as they are interesting.

Whether we as human should intervene to preserve endangered species, I don't think the answer really matters in terms of we are part of natural selection, since no matter what we do, it's part of natural selection, nature does not care about our decision or actions.

I'll bet all that fidgeting of the hands are an evolutionary construct to help the speaker keep from boggling down in nervousness.

Anyone who believes dinosaurs are extinct haven’t seen an Emu.

So honey bees. A queen mates with multiple drones, not one. So the relationship equation is not accurate.

36:11 Full siblings share 50% DNA, not 25%. For parents Dd & Mm consider a child (let's say of type DM). Now, that child compared to another child who is equally likely to be one of DM Dm dM dm: DM v DM = 100% DM v Dm = 50% DM v dM = 50% DM v dm = 0% The average overlap in DNA between full siblings is 50%.

We can’t have evolution for human who can act in deverant aspects to a machine which can’t be existed without human..isn’t it?

Those are pheasants , not peacocks, but I am sure the Fisher's Runaway point applies.

A lot of armchair intellectuals in this comment section who put way too much confidence in their own reasoning.