EVOLUTION Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

EVOLUTION - Term Paper Example The creation theory of evolution theorized that the infinite life forms in the Earth were created by God. Moreover, the creation theory is of the opinion that all life forms have remained unchanged since creation. Consequently, much of the 17th and 18th century biology in Europe focused on the description of animals and plants with no explanation on how they came to being. Carolus Linnaeus is hailed as a first class scientist who developed the classification system for identifying living things. To this end, Linnaeus identified animals and plants based on modes of reproduction and physical appearance. Evidently, Linnaeus used the binomial nomenclature system in naming the plants and animals. Consequently, the Latin concept of genus and species was developed. However, the late 18th century saw the emergence of new evolutionary concepts that suggested that life forms were not fixed. George Louis Leclerc (Comte de Buffon) a French naturalist and mathematician, was credited with stating that living things changed in the course of time (Loxton, 2010). Incidentally, he theorized that these changes were attributed to environmental influences. Leclerc believed the Earth’s age was over 6,000 years and estimated it be at least 75,000 years (Loxton, 2010). Moreover, Buffon theorized that humans were related to the apes. In addition, he is credited with cl aiming that species could achieve change in the course of generations. To this end, Buffon is envisaged as a man who advocated for the explanation of living things through natural laws, as opposed to theological doctrines. Jeane Baptiste Chevalier de Lamarck is the pioneer evolutionist who publicly revealed his theories on the processes that led to biological change. However, his theories have been construed as a great misconception. Evidently, Lamarck theorized that microscopic organisms came into being through spontaneity from inanimate materials. As a result, the organisms evolved or