February 12th is the birthday of Charles Darwin, whose landmark 1859 book On the Origin of Species changed biology—and our perceptions of life and our place in the universe—forever. “Darwin’s insights explained how animals developed and changed through geologic time, via the process of natural selection,” said Scott.
“Later studies, coupled Darwin’s work with genetics, provided the bedrock for all subsequent studies of biology. Yet misunderstandings persist about how some features of living creatures could have appeared without some sort of designer working behind the scenes. Can natural selection and genetics explain the wonderful diversity of life we see today? Does the appearance of “design” mandate a designer?” In this lecture, Scott will examine the evidence for (and against) “design” in the living world.
The Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley.