2012
Evolutionary Transformations: The Legacies of Two Influential Scientists on Evolutionary Thought
November 2, 2012
1:00 - 5:00 PM
Hyatt Regency
Dallas, TX
This symposium will highlight the impact of two transformational thinkers in evolutionary biology who died in 2011: Lynn Marguils and Jim Crow. The symposium will begin with an overview and historical perspective of major transitions in evolutionary biology, followed by two scientists who are proteges of Margulis and Crow and can speak to the impact of their mentors' work. The symposium will close with a talk on the future of evolutionary biology and the roles of Margulis' and Crow's works in helping shape that future.
Six Major Transistions of Evolutionary Thought
Professor, History of Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
In the history of modern biology, no concept has been more transformative than Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. However, the conceptual elements we associate with modern evolutionary theory did not originate as a package in Darwin’s 1859 Origin of Species, but rather emerged piecemeal, both before and after his revolutionary work. Nyhart will highlight six major transitions of evolutionary thought, situating each in its historical moment of emergence and then pointing to its continuing role in later research. As each was incorporated into a larger picture, it changed the overall meaning of evolution and refocused the attention of evolutionary biologists toward different research problems. These cases show that even the most fundamental biological ideas continue to take on new meanings as scientists absorb novel information and ways of thinking about nature.
Natural History as the Ground Truth for Molecular Biology
Professor of Biology
Wheaton College, MA
Before there was biology, there was natural history and its most passionate followers (such as Charles Darwin) were great collectors and namers and observers and perhaps most importantly classifiers of their collections, names and observations. Is there any purpose to such activities in modern biology? Some might say no; Richard Dawkins reminds us that we humans are afflicted with brains that love categorization and that much of our endeavors to collect, sort and name are due to the “tyranny” of our “discontinuous minds.” And thus we miss the continuous flow of evolutionary change. The true (or at least modern) picture of a phylogenetic tree is a blur of horizontal transfers, promiscuously connecting even the most distant branches; this is one of the great revelations of DNA sequence analysis. Perhaps it is time to abandon all such notions of classification. Or perhaps not, as will be argued in this talk. Natural history (complete with its nomenclatures) is a “ground truth” for DNA phylogenies, which need that anchoring. Nearly all interesting hypotheses that can be investigated by DNA sequences originate with observations of the natural world and with communications about those observations which in turn are best conveyed with a framework nomenclature. Perhaps there is an emerging opportunity to celebrate our discontinuous minds and our tendency to classify to excellent use in providing intriguing hypotheses for molecular phylogenies.
Mutation, Sex and Genomic Evolution
Professor of Biology
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Mutation ultimately drives all evolutionary change and therefore plays a fundamental role in understanding classic questions like why does sex exist, as well as more recent questions like how is natural variation structured at the level of whole genomes? In this talk, Dr. Phillips will highlight some of the insights and approaches to these questions pioneered by James Crow and his students, using his own work in experimental evolution and genomics to illustrate how far our thinking has come in the last 60 years – and where the new revolution in genomic technology is taking us now.
The Unexpected Practical Applications of Evolutionary Biology
Alfred W. Roark Centennial Professor, Section of Integrative Biology
The University of Texas at Austin, TX
Abstract: The work of James Crow and Lynn Margulis helped shape public understanding of the concepts of mutation and macroevolution, respectively. This understanding has fueled many practical applications of evolutionary biology in recent years: from the field of forensics, to human health, to new methods of detecting and understanding Earth's enormous biodiversity.
Interested in receiving teaching materials and learning about strategies to teach about the evolution of evolutionary thought in your classroom? Join us the day after the symposium to engage in hands-on activities and explore the teaching resources that accompany the symposium content:
2012 Workshop
November 3, 2012
10:00am-12:00pm
Hyatt Regency
Dallas TX
For more information about the 2012 NABT Conference, including registration please go to the NABT website.
