What Darwin Didn't Know

Charles Darwin's remarkable On the Origin of Species was a groundbreaking work that fundamentally altered how scientists approached the study of life itself. However, since its publication in 1859, the modern science of biology and genetics has added surprising new dimensions to evolutionary theory. In this course you'll discover what Darwin didn't know in 24 lectures delivered by Professor Scott Solomon of Rice University. Assuming no background in science, this course shows how the many gaps and mysteries in the evolutionary theory of Darwin's day were systematically solved, launching a golden age of biology. Your lessons begin by laying the foundation of Darwin's theory. Then, you'll move forward in time, and see how advances in genetics, molecular biology, paleontology, microbiology, and even geology have given Darwin's ideas more depth, and in some cases, turned them on their heads. You'll uncover how DNA sequencing has allowed us to gain a clearer picture of evolutionary history and explore the vital role of heredity in the millions of species known today—including species Darwin himself never even dreamed would exist. Throughout these lectures, you'll apply modern evolutionary theory to better understand the breeding of plants, animals, and genetically modified organisms. Finally, you'll see how the cutting-edge science of gene editing is being used to influence evolution, and you'll peer into the future to gauge the prospects for further evolution of our own species.