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The discontinuities in the fossil record that seemed to show that some species or taxons were in a state of non-evolution and then seemed to go through a burst of rapid evolutionary change. This is really only seen in the fossil record and does not have a lot of support in disciplines such as molecular genetic, which genetic divergence back through time in today's genomes.
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How is the punctuated equilibrium a better model for dealing with gaps and missing links in fossil records?
Answer: The late evolutionary professor of Palaeontology Stephen Jay Gould, proposed an evolutionary theory called 'punctuated equilibrium' to explain the evidence he found in the fossil record. His theory essentially meant that evolution proceeded by 'jumps' rather than gradually as Darwin proposed.The evidence was the fact (still the case today), that the many intermediate forms that are required by evolution to proceed in the standard Darwinian manner just do not exist. Gould once stated that 'The extreme rarity of transitional forms in the fossil record persists as the trade secret of paleontology. The evolutionary trees that adorn our textbooks have data only at the tips and nodes of their branches … in any local area, a species does not arise gradually by the gradual transformation of its ancestors; it appears all at once and "fully formed." (Stephen Jay Gould, Evolution's erratic pace, Natural History 86(5):14, May 1977.)The idea was that these 'jumps' occurred in small isolated populations which were thus not as likely to be fossilised. Thus Gould together with Niles Eldredge, explained the large, seemingly unbridgeable gaps in the fossil record, the study of which he was an expert.
A quote by Stephen Jay Gould?
We pass through this nice world, but once. For many more see the related link for more. As a paleontologist by profession this was evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould's area of expertise. Although revered as a great scientist Gould has received some criticism from fellow believers in evolution for his candid comments about the nature of the fossil record. He referred to the fossil record in relation to evolution in the following way:"The absence of fossil evidence for intermediary stages between major transitions in organic design, indeed our inability, even in our imagination, to construct functional intermediates in many cases, has been a persistent and nagging problem for gradualistic accounts of evolution."Stephen Jay Gould (Professor of Geology and Paleontology, Harvard University), 'Is a new and general theory of evolution emerging?' Paleobiology, vol.6(1), January 1980,p. 127."All paleontologists know that the fossil record contains precious little in the way of intermediate forms; transitions between the major groups are characteristically abrupt."Stephen Jay Gould 'The return of hopeful monsters'. Natural History, vol. LXXXVI(6), June-July 1977, p. 24."The extreme rarity of transitional forms in the fossil record persists as the trade secret of paleontology. The evolutionary trees that adorn our textbooks have data only at the tips and nodes of their branches; the rest is inference, however reasonable, not the evidence of fossils. Yet Darwin was so wedded to gradualism that he wagered his entire theory on a denial of this literal record:The geological record is (here Gould is quoting Darwin) extremely imperfect and this fact will to a large extent explain why we do not find intermediate varieties, connecting together all the extinct and existing forms of life by the finest graduated steps. He who rejects these views on the nature of the geological record will rightly reject my whole theory. (end of quote)Darwin's argument still persists as the favored escape of most paleontologists from the embarrassment of a record that seems to show so little of evolution. In exposing its cultural and methodological roots, I wish in no way to impugn the potential validity of gradualism (for all general views have similar roots). I wish only to point out that it was never "seen" in the rocks.Paleontologists have paid an exorbitant price for Darwin's argument. We fancy ourselves as the only true students of life's history, yet to preserve our favored account of evolution by natural selection we view our data as so bad that we never see the very process we profess to study."Stephen Jay Gould 'Evolution's erratic pace'. Natural History, vol. LXXXVI95), May 1977, p.14.Gould's commitment to Darwinian evolution would not allow him to abandon it. However what the evidence shows is clear from these statements of Gould, no matter what he makes of them.
The theory that evolution occurs slowly but steadily is called?
Darwin's classic theory of evolution assumed that evolution is a slow, contunuous process, by which new species evolve and emerge. This is referred to at times as "organic evolution" and the "synthetic theory of evolution", or just the Darwinian theory of evolution. A newer theory, proposed originally by Niles Eldridge and Stephen Jay Gould is known as "punctuated equilibria", a model in which the evloution of new species occurs only periodically, in relatively rapid spurts. See "Time Frames the Rethinking of Darwinian Evolution and the Theory of Punctuated Equilibraia, Simon & Schuster, 1985"AnswerThe slow, constant process has also been called "gradualism."
How does the punctuated equilibrium model of evolution states that evolution occurs rapidly?
Gradualism is the theory that evolution occurs slowly and consistently along periods of time. On the other hand, punctuated equilibrium is the theory that evolution does not occurs for long periods of time and then suddenly evolves rapidly in a small short period of time.
What did jay gould invent?
Jay Gould did not invent anything. He is known for being a railroad builder and financier. He had a reputation for doing things illegally and was thought ruthless.
What did Stephen gould do?
Stephen Gould is known for developing the theory of punctuated equilibrium. Stephen lived from 1941-2002 in the city of New York.
What were Stephen Gould's main findings?
what were some of Stephen gould's main findings
What is Stephen Jay Gould's birthday?
Stephen Jay Gould was born on September 10, 1941.
When was Stephen Jay Gould born?
Stephen Jay Gould was born on September 10, 1941.
Rapid evolution with few intermediate forms?
This describes the theory of punctuated equilibriumdeveloped by Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldridge.
When did Stephen Jay Gould die?
Stephen Jay Gould died on May 20, 2002 at the age of 60.
Why is Stephen Jay Gould a bane to Creationists?
Because he champions the validity of the scientific bases for the theory of evolution. He also effectively educates regarding the inadequacy of Creationism as a scientific theory.
How old was Stephen Jay Gould at death?
Stephen Jay Gould died on May 20, 2002 at the age of 60.
How old is Stephen Jay Gould?
Stephen Jay Gould was born on September 10, 1941 and died on May 20, 2002. Stephen Jay Gould would have been 60 years old at the time of death or 73 years old today.
What model of evolutions shows change over a relatively short period of time?
The theory of punctuated equilibrium. Developed by Niles Eldridge and Stephen Jay Gould.
Was Stephen Jay Gould both an atheist and Marxist?
he was a agnostic
What did Stephen Gould invent?
Gould's greatest contribution to science was the theory of punctuated equilibrium which he developed with Niles Eldredge in 1972. The theory proposes that most evolution is marked by long periods of evolutionary stability, which is punctuated by rare instances ofbranching evolution. The theory was contrasted against phyletic gradualism, the popular idea that evolutionary change is marked by a pattern of smooth and continuous change in the fossil record.
