Resumen

ANDRADE PEREZ, EUGENIO. Darwin or the False Conflict Between the Theory of Natural Selection and the Hypotheses Pangenesis. Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2009, vol.14, suppl.1, pp.63-76. ISSN 0120-548X.

In order to provide a more integral view of Darwin’s work, I present the development of his ideas, showing the influence of the mechanical view of nature on one hand, and the Lamarckian recapitulationism on the other. The originality of the theory of evolution by natural selection is highlighted, while showing its connection with the analogy with breeders directed crosses and its theoretical justification inspired in Mathus population theory. However, it is explained how Darwin’s concern with the problem of the origin of evolutionary variations led him to consider the role of the environment in the production of variants. In this context it is explained the historical importance of his ill-fated hypothesis of pangenesis. To conclude, it is shown that though the concept of evolution by natural selection assumes the randomness of individual variations, Darwin nevertheless pursued his stubborn search for the laws of variations that he believed to have accounted for with this hypothesis.

Palabras clave : natural selection; pangenesis; chance; environment; Darwin.

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