Has the concept of evolution been modified from what Darwin originally proposed?

Question

What is the latest accepted theory of evolution? What is its name? Neo-Darwinism?


Bible people please keep away. No cut-paste jobs here.

Answer 1

Yes, main change is Darwin did not know genetics (wonder oh world! Mendel sent him his work and it is on Darwin's desk (his house a museum today) still unopened, he did never open it!). He did not have a good explanation on character's heredity, so when genetics were rediscovered at the very beginning of last century, a synthesis came and it made possible the rise of neodarwinism.
Now we have a lot of genetic mechanisms and explanation that fit neatly in the main body of Darwin's work.

Answer 2

I don't know that it's been modified, but it has been expanded. The basic principles of natural selection are still widely accepted as the driving force behind speciation. But due to the discovery of DNA, scientists are able to expand on Darwin. In Darwin's time, we couldn't use DNA evidence as proof; now we can. We can see how gene frequencies change in a given population, where before we could not. As we learn more about DNA and genes, our insights into evolution strengthen.

Answer 3

There is no "accepted" theory because it is just that, a theory.

For some good info to draw your own conclusions (from a slightly scientifically skewed perspective) - hey, its National Geographic, The article still offers some solid points and things to think about.

It's a pretty good read. The online article is from the end of 2004, I belive there is a print version from the magazine from late 2005.

Answer 4

Darwin did not have an explanation of genetics, so the scientists who followed him folded Mendelian genetics into Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. I believe they called it the "New Synthesis." Later there was the "Neutral Theory."

Answer 5

yes it does. the new theory's name is NEW SYNTHESIC EVOLUTION wich is giving help from Darwin and Mendel (father of classic genetic).
and one more thing, when we are talking about theory of evolution, we dont mean that its lie or unreal. so dont misuse the word : THEORY.

Answer 6

sexual selection has also been added... if i remember correctly, 2 forces are at work..... natural selection is selection through adaptation to the environment, whereas sexual selection is selection based on attraction. ..for example some female birds are attracted to large plumbs of feathers on males ( in fact the larger the better) and this continues until the plumb is to large for the environment.

Answer 7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Darwinism