Should evolution be taught in schools?

[Rían]

Originally posted by Sheeana
How does this suppose that he is following larmarck's hypothesis here? Granted, it is perhaps true that quite a few people believed Larmarck initially, but I sincerely doubt that Darwin thought that changes came about in a lifetime of an organism after his voyage of the Beagle.

The basic premise of evolution is to have the best possible fitness. Evolution IS environment. Phenotype = Genotype + Environment. I don't really see how this quote is following Larmarck. That quote is not stating that organisms evolved in their lifetimes.

Again, the CONTEXT is that Darwin initially believed (he LATER changed his mind) that NEW TRAITS arose thru use/disuse. And that's ALL it was talking about - how new traits get here. And so it's VERY understandable that Darwin thought the new traits problem was less difficult than it is.

Eärniel - I did a search on Google and every one I came up with (I searched Darwin and pangenes) said Darwin believed in pangenes. Most say he later changed his mind, too. But when he was developing O. of Sp., it seems pretty clear that he thought new traits came from use/disuse. Let me know if you find more on this (or anyone else, too). Frankly, I think that if your biology book doesn't mention this, it's being "dishonest through omission".