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Theodosius Dobzhansky very famously remarked- “Nothing in Biology makes sense except in the light of evolution”. Evolution is the rationale behind the immense diversity and complexity that exists in our living world. It is the reason we have different blood groups, hair colour, skin colour, diseases and so many physiological variations. In fact, it is the basis for our existence as Homo sapiens as it is the reason for the SARS-CoV-2 to mutate.
It is useful to see the historical context of the theory of natural selection that was propounded in 1859 by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace. Darwin was greatly influenced by Thomas Malthus who was an economist. His essay on population shaped Darwin’s thought process on competition between species in the living world. Contrary to the popular notion the famous phrase “survival for the fittest” was coined by a British philosopher and scientist Herbert Spencer. It is also interesting to note that this theory is often misunderstood, and many times deliberately misrepresented to fulfil ulterior political goals.
Without teaching organic evolution the subject of Biology just becomes an assemblage of facts to be rote learned. Not teaching this essential concept will have an opportunity cost and a long-term effect. The gap in the conceptual understanding in young minds has the potential of getting filled in by non-scientific myths.
The concept of organic evolution underlies all branches of Biology. It helps students to make sense of the world in new and different ways and understand the essential molecular unity seen across all living organisms. Most importantly it helps us humans understand that we are very much a part of nature and not apart from it. We are apes belonging to the family Hominidae and bear genetic and structural similarity to great apes. Finding our position in the tree of life is emotionally humbling and also reiterates the essential interdependence of the living world.
What is the overarching goal of introducing students to the classification system of organisms when we do not include descent with modification in the lesson? What is the point of teaching recombination of genes in meiosis, if students are do not connect it to the purpose of variation in nature which is adaptation to the changing environment?
The beauty of Darwin’s theory of natural selection is its simplicity and the fact that it has stood the test of time. There is irrefutable evidence that supports this theory. Most interesting being the connecting links like the Archaeopteryx. The Archaeopteryx is a famous transitional fossil that gives us evidence for the evolution of birds from theropods dinosaurs. Comparative genomics also offers novel opportunities to verify the tenets of Darwin’s theory.
So essential is Darwin’s theory of evolution that the working definition of life used by NASA’s astrobiology program defines life as a self-sustaining system capable of Darwinian evolution. Exobiologists argue on a firm theoretical ground that alien life would also be Darwinian in nature!
By integrating Mendel’s discovery of principals of genetics with Darwin’s theory emerged Neo-Darwinism. Neo Darwinism explains the source of genetic variation and role in evolution. We now know that natural selection alone has not shaped the process of organic evolution. Processes like genetic drift, migration, and mutation have played important role. Darwin’s theory also extends its influence in economics, linguistics cultural studies.
The most important lesson that pandemic has taught us is that a democratic society benefits when scientific temper is inculcated in its citizens. An informed citizenry raises the level of political and public discourse. For this reason alone, Darwin’s theory should remain a part of the grade 10 curriculum.
The speed at which the vaccine against Covid was developed was unprecedented. Simultaneously humanity also witnessed, how the mistrust in science and vaccine hesitancy led to paying of heavy price in terms of human lives. Scientific temper helps in sound decision making which breeds healthy public debates and a functional democracy. When politics interferes with the science curriculum it undermines it and insidiously ushers in pseudo-science. What is the point of education when people do not ask the right questions and believe in fake news perpetrated by politicians and religious heads using social media?
Hence it is very important that science education at the school level does not become a political tool. It will be a shame that students who study science only till grade ten and then opt for commerce or liberal arts stream will never be exposed to the tenets of Darwinism in a classroom.
For those who just scoff at it and call it just a theory must know that a theory is a proven hypothesis. Which means it is widely accepted, well substantiated and supported by careful examination of facts.