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What Darwin Didn't Know: The Modern Science of Evolution
Charles Darwin's remarkable On the Origin of Species was a groundbreaking work that fundamentally altered how scientists approached the study of life itself. However, since its publication in 1859, the modern science of biology and genetics has added surprising new dimensions to evolutionary theory.
In this course, you’ll discover what Darwin didn’t know, covering much of the curriculum of an introductory college course in evolutionary biology. No background in science is needed to follow these engaging lectures, delivered by Professor Scott Solomon of Rice University, a gifted teacher and widely traveled field biologist.
Dr. Solomon reveals how the many gaps and mysteries in the evolutionary theory of Darwin’s day were systematically solved by brilliant researchers, such as Gregor Mendel, Thomas Hunt Morgan, Theodosius Dobzhansky, Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, Motoo Kimura, and a host of others, who have brought the world into a golden age of biological research.
Your lessons begin by laying the foundation of Darwin’s theory. Then, you’ll move forward in time, and hear how advances in genetics, molecular biology, paleontology, and even geology have given Darwin’s ideas more depth, and in some cases, turned them on their heads. You’ll uncover how DNA reconstruction has allowed us to gain a clearer picture of evolutionary history and explore the vital role of heredity in the millions of species known today - including species Darwin himself never even dreamed would exist. Throughout these lectures, you’ll apply modern evolutionary theory to better understand the breeding of plants, animals, and genetically modified organisms. Finally, you’ll hear how the cutting-edge science of gene editing is being used to influence evolution, and you’ll peer into the future to gauge the prospects for further evolution of our own species.
PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
In this course, you’ll discover what Darwin didn’t know, covering much of the curriculum of an introductory college course in evolutionary biology. No background in science is needed to follow these engaging lectures, delivered by Professor Scott Solomon of Rice University, a gifted teacher and widely traveled field biologist.
Dr. Solomon reveals how the many gaps and mysteries in the evolutionary theory of Darwin’s day were systematically solved by brilliant researchers, such as Gregor Mendel, Thomas Hunt Morgan, Theodosius Dobzhansky, Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, Motoo Kimura, and a host of others, who have brought the world into a golden age of biological research.
Your lessons begin by laying the foundation of Darwin’s theory. Then, you’ll move forward in time, and hear how advances in genetics, molecular biology, paleontology, and even geology have given Darwin’s ideas more depth, and in some cases, turned them on their heads. You’ll uncover how DNA reconstruction has allowed us to gain a clearer picture of evolutionary history and explore the vital role of heredity in the millions of species known today - including species Darwin himself never even dreamed would exist. Throughout these lectures, you’ll apply modern evolutionary theory to better understand the breeding of plants, animals, and genetically modified organisms. Finally, you’ll hear how the cutting-edge science of gene editing is being used to influence evolution, and you’ll peer into the future to gauge the prospects for further evolution of our own species.
PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
13 pages, Audible Audio
Published January 1, 2019
11 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 16, 2019
Consumed as an audiobook. 5/5 stars.
Holy heck. When I saw the duration of the book was 18 hours, I figured it would take me a couple months to get through. Instead, 2 weeks later, I'm left wondering how it disappeared so quickly.
A really interesting series of lectures, with some repetition which was actually helpful for me in remembering information and tying one subject back to another. Recommended if you at all like non-fiction.
Holy heck. When I saw the duration of the book was 18 hours, I figured it would take me a couple months to get through. Instead, 2 weeks later, I'm left wondering how it disappeared so quickly.
A really interesting series of lectures, with some repetition which was actually helpful for me in remembering information and tying one subject back to another. Recommended if you at all like non-fiction.
July 22, 2023
This was a very informative course on evolution and how our knowledge of its workings has expanded since the time of Darwin. Thanks to technological advances in genetics, chemistry, geology and paleontology, our understanding has improved tremendously.
Professor Solomon narrates clearly and excitedly on the subject, so you can't help but listen intently as he expresses how life on earth has been going through small, intricate changes for time immemorial. It is truly staggering. As I continue to learn about the complexities of natural selection, my appreciation has grown to adore all species, each special in its own way, having evolved (and continually evolving) to survive in ever changing environments.
The Great Courses are wonderful for learning and this one was no exception!
Professor Solomon narrates clearly and excitedly on the subject, so you can't help but listen intently as he expresses how life on earth has been going through small, intricate changes for time immemorial. It is truly staggering. As I continue to learn about the complexities of natural selection, my appreciation has grown to adore all species, each special in its own way, having evolved (and continually evolving) to survive in ever changing environments.
The Great Courses are wonderful for learning and this one was no exception!
November 19, 2020
Boy oh boy! The last section of this lecture series is so relevant to 2020 COVID-19.
I liked the whole series. I didn't feel like I needed a doctorate it understand it.
I liked the whole series. I didn't feel like I needed a doctorate it understand it.
September 16, 2019
ما لم يعلمه دارون: العلم الحديث للتطور
يعد تشارلز داون أحد أشهر العلماء، وهو الذي طرح نظرية التطور والانتخاب الطبيعي بقوة في كتابه أصل الأنواع، ولكن دارون توفي في نهاية القرن التاسع عشر، أي قبل ما يزيد على ١٣٠ سنة. منذ ذلك الحين تطورت العلوم كثيرًا، وبتنا نعرف أكثر بكثير، بل وتم إضافة تعديلات مهمة على نظرية التطور.
في سلسلة المحاضرات هذه يطلعنا الدكتود سكوت سولومون من جامعة رايس على أبرز المواضيع المتعلقة بالتطور، بدءًا بقصة تشارلز دارون وصولًا حتى آخر التطورات في نظرية التطور.
من أبرز المواضيع التي كان يجهلها دارون هو آلية الوراثة، فرغم أن وراثة تشكل ركنًا أساسيًا في نظرية التطور إلا أنها كانت لغزًا حينها. طور دارون نظرية خاصة في الوراثة وقد كانت خاطئة، أما جريجور مندل، صاحب النظرية الأنجح في الوراثة فلم تكن آراؤه معروفة وعلى الأرجح لم يسمع بها دارون.
مواضيع كثيرة تتطرق لها المحاضرات مثل الطب التطوري، أسباب الموت والهرم، التطور الثنائي، تطور الجنس، مدى عشوائية التطور، تطور البشر، تطور البكتيريا، رسم شجرة الحياة باستخدام الحمض النووي، الانفجار الكمبري، وغيره.
أسلوب الكاتب جيد، وشرحه للمواضيع واضح. تحتوي المحاضرات على كمية محترمة من المعلومات تتطلب تركيزًا حثيثًا. لا تستخدم المحاضرات أسلوب الاقناع أو دحض الحجج الذي يغلب على كتب التطور الأخرى، لذى فهو مفيد لمن هو مقتنع بالنظرية ويريد التعرف على مزيد من التفاصيل عنها، أو لديه بعض الأسئلة حولها.
يعد تشارلز داون أحد أشهر العلماء، وهو الذي طرح نظرية التطور والانتخاب الطبيعي بقوة في كتابه أصل الأنواع، ولكن دارون توفي في نهاية القرن التاسع عشر، أي قبل ما يزيد على ١٣٠ سنة. منذ ذلك الحين تطورت العلوم كثيرًا، وبتنا نعرف أكثر بكثير، بل وتم إضافة تعديلات مهمة على نظرية التطور.
في سلسلة المحاضرات هذه يطلعنا الدكتود سكوت سولومون من جامعة رايس على أبرز المواضيع المتعلقة بالتطور، بدءًا بقصة تشارلز دارون وصولًا حتى آخر التطورات في نظرية التطور.
من أبرز المواضيع التي كان يجهلها دارون هو آلية الوراثة، فرغم أن وراثة تشكل ركنًا أساسيًا في نظرية التطور إلا أنها كانت لغزًا حينها. طور دارون نظرية خاصة في الوراثة وقد كانت خاطئة، أما جريجور مندل، صاحب النظرية الأنجح في الوراثة فلم تكن آراؤه معروفة وعلى الأرجح لم يسمع بها دارون.
مواضيع كثيرة تتطرق لها المحاضرات مثل الطب التطوري، أسباب الموت والهرم، التطور الثنائي، تطور الجنس، مدى عشوائية التطور، تطور البشر، تطور البكتيريا، رسم شجرة الحياة باستخدام الحمض النووي، الانفجار الكمبري، وغيره.
أسلوب الكاتب جيد، وشرحه للمواضيع واضح. تحتوي المحاضرات على كمية محترمة من المعلومات تتطلب تركيزًا حثيثًا. لا تستخدم المحاضرات أسلوب الاقناع أو دحض الحجج الذي يغلب على كتب التطور الأخرى، لذى فهو مفيد لمن هو مقتنع بالنظرية ويريد التعرف على مزيد من التفاصيل عنها، أو لديه بعض الأسئلة حولها.
September 14, 2020
The content warrants 5 stars, Scott Solomon the lecturer was engaging, I gained an expanded perspective on how evolution works, and I learned a lot about Darwin, such a fascinating character. However, I took off a rating star since sometime the visual and audible streams weren't in synch, and because, generally the lecture format is not my favorite. But, I highly recommend this Great Course. A strong scientific background isn't a prerequisite. I watched one 30-minute lecture each day.
February 23, 2022
A FANTASTIC and in-depth overview of modern advances in science, told through many interesting examples from the natural world
August 10, 2019
Really interesting, detailed with great examples and clarity. Experiments and data I wasn't aware of, clarifying several points I have wondered about.
Fascinating as far as evolution, and even good things to think about relating to economics and game theory if you think about it.
Fascinating as far as evolution, and even good things to think about relating to economics and game theory if you think about it.
June 27, 2021
Great introduction to the "pseudo science" of evolution. I am not sure how an educated person could accept all of that contradictory theories, illogical arguments, and shaky scientific foundation. There is a lot if illogical arguments hidden behind a lot of academic jargon.
Altough I didn't like the arguments, I am giving the audio book a rating of 5 because the professor did great job in making the lectures and story telling.
Altough I didn't like the arguments, I am giving the audio book a rating of 5 because the professor did great job in making the lectures and story telling.
December 4, 2021
A very enjoyable series of lectures on the current views on evolution. He does wander from time to time into areas outside of evolution when they suit his purposes, for example on global warming/climate change. I am not so certain that he elevated the subject from theory to science, but he did seem relatively rational. I still see far too many "just so" stories, although there may be evidence for some of them that he did not share purely for space reasons.
April 22, 2023
Dr. Scott Solomon, evolutionary biologist specializing in ants at Rice University, describes Charles Darwin's foundational theories of evolution and natural selection before detailing the field advancements since then. Darwin's 1859 "On the Origin of Species" changed how we thought about heredity, time and humanity as we are related to all other life on Earth. However, there were gaps and unexplained mysteries that Darwin was unable to solve, and I loved learning about the modern science of biology and genetics Solomon discusses throughout this The Great Courses lecture series.
Solomon mentions the work of many brilliant researchers, including Gregor Mendel, Charles Lyell, Theodosius Dobzhansky, Rosalind Franklin, and Jennifer Doudna. Our greater understanding of microorganisms like bacteria and viruses are particularly engaging, and the comparisons between modern human evolution and eusocial ant societies fascinating. This was also released in January 2019, so his premonitions on the spread of infectious disease throughout our global human population are poignant in light of our. lived experience.
This is right in my demographic wheelhouse, and it does not disappoint! For those also interested in this topic, I similarly recommend "I Contain Multitudes" by Ed Yong and "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee.
Solomon mentions the work of many brilliant researchers, including Gregor Mendel, Charles Lyell, Theodosius Dobzhansky, Rosalind Franklin, and Jennifer Doudna. Our greater understanding of microorganisms like bacteria and viruses are particularly engaging, and the comparisons between modern human evolution and eusocial ant societies fascinating. This was also released in January 2019, so his premonitions on the spread of infectious disease throughout our global human population are poignant in light of our. lived experience.
This is right in my demographic wheelhouse, and it does not disappoint! For those also interested in this topic, I similarly recommend "I Contain Multitudes" by Ed Yong and "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee.
August 18, 2025
For a title seemingly focused on what Darwin didn't know, you will spend a lot of time finding out what Darwin did know. Not only do you get the usual Darwin bio, a lot of time is focused on the debates of Darwins day, and most sections begin with situating the modern information relative to what Darwin thought. On the one hand this really showed how many times Darwin hit it on the head, without the evidence we now have to confirm what amounted to hunches. But it's also a course that could be half the length if it actually focused on the advances and latest information. Some areas are still cutting edge and could have done with far more depth.
Luckily there are alternatives like Epigenetics: How Environment Changes Your Biology in TGCs own catalogue. VSI also has great options: Human Evolution: A Very Short Introduction.
Luckily there are alternatives like Epigenetics: How Environment Changes Your Biology in TGCs own catalogue. VSI also has great options: Human Evolution: A Very Short Introduction.
August 24, 2024
This is one of the best books I have read about the modern understanding of Evolution. There are just a few ideas that come close to the brilliance and power of this one idea—that a purely natural process can generate all the complexity and variety in the living world—no watchmaker needed. A lot of new things have happened in this field since Darwin first published this idea 165 years ago. This book is an excellent summary of all those refinements, corrections, and deeper understanding.
It talks about the different ways evolution happens, the molecular mechanism of heredity, the evolution of the human species, where it might go in the future, the paradoxes that were initially hard to explain, and how we humans can change the course of evolution and its consequences.
If you are curious about the animal world and about your own species, this book will answer many of your questions.
It talks about the different ways evolution happens, the molecular mechanism of heredity, the evolution of the human species, where it might go in the future, the paradoxes that were initially hard to explain, and how we humans can change the course of evolution and its consequences.
If you are curious about the animal world and about your own species, this book will answer many of your questions.
April 2, 2022
Cheetahs are so close genetically that any cheetah will accept a transplant or skin graft from any other cheetah without the immune system trying to reject it. The human reproductive system is a bad design! Darwin once put a beetle in his mouth so he could carry one more specimen back to his camp, having his hands full with other specimens, and the beetle sprayed some kind of foul stuff as a defense mechanism, and he ended up losing all the specimens scrambling to wash out his mouth. I learned about the SHADOW of Natural Selection, which is pretty interesting -- genes/traits that do not activate or become apparent until after mating age aren't affected by Natural Selection since they do not affect mating. Fish with no hemoglobin. Cross-species transfer of genetic information. Lots of great stuff here.
August 21, 2021
A very pleasant read. The book starts with a quick recap of Darwin's life with a focus on the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection, credited both to Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. We get a refresher on DNA and genes, this is a rather boring part, but it's important for completeness. Then we get many chapters full of interesting facts about life, such as eusocial animals (termites, ants, many bees, but also naked mole rats). We learn about various drivers of evolutionary changes (sharp changes in the environment, mutations, genetic drift), mututal evolution of species, and many other things. The book not only teaches but helps appreciate the mechanisms and new knowledge by providing very concrete examples illustrating all the mechanisms.
April 3, 2022
1. Genetic mutation
Can be caused by mutagens (e.g. radiation, chemicals or infectious agents) or when DNA is copied incorrectly in cell division.
Genetic mutations are rare. Most genetic mutations are detrimental or neutral (silent mutations). However, beneficial mutations do occur. Beneficial mutations happen randomly—not because they are beneficial.
Beneficial mutations will not create divergent species, for that you will need…
2. Reproductive Isolation
When a group of individuals is separated from the rest of the species and environmental circumstances are changed, the possibility of a new species exists. Species must be completely separated!
3. Natural selection, sexual selection and genetic drift
Can be caused by mutagens (e.g. radiation, chemicals or infectious agents) or when DNA is copied incorrectly in cell division.
Genetic mutations are rare. Most genetic mutations are detrimental or neutral (silent mutations). However, beneficial mutations do occur. Beneficial mutations happen randomly—not because they are beneficial.
Beneficial mutations will not create divergent species, for that you will need…
2. Reproductive Isolation
When a group of individuals is separated from the rest of the species and environmental circumstances are changed, the possibility of a new species exists. Species must be completely separated!
3. Natural selection, sexual selection and genetic drift
August 15, 2025
Great concept, and delivered with such elan. Solomon has great skills as a popularizer. So many fascinating things we know now. My favorite thing is the emergence of Sapiens from among a host of concurrent hominins, from homo neanderthalis to homo Naledi. I really appreciated how the author, while laying out such intricacies as cranial capacities, the FOXP2 gene’s possible role in human evolution, and such – also bubbles with the sheer wonder of the fact that our ancestors lived in a world with multiple other species of humans. What Was It Like.
December 22, 2021
This was full of good information and a basic understanding of evolutionary theory. Really, the reason I gave it three stars was that, surprisingly, I really didn't learn all that much. Evolutionary theory isn't something that I consider myself to be especially knowledgeable about, but I guess I remember more of 9th grade biology than I thought. It seemed pretty basic to me, but if you're someone who really knows nothing then I could see it being interesting.
October 14, 2025
I have a soft spot for texts explaining the complexity of evolution. This one did a great job on context — from a scientific point of view. There could have been more context from a societal point of view, but I understand the desire to leave that to other science educators.
A great summary if you want to understand what’s evolved, so to speak, in our understanding of this most fundamental principle of biology.
A great summary if you want to understand what’s evolved, so to speak, in our understanding of this most fundamental principle of biology.
July 7, 2021
I really liked how this series of lectures was presented. The first few were understandably fairly basic, but still had some interesting information about Darwin himself that I had never heard. Later lectures added plenty of detailed facts and thoughts. The theories regarding the Cambrian Explosion were particularly thought provoking.
August 29, 2019
What Darwin Didn't Know is a very comprehensive and interesting series on evolutionary theory and research since it was originally proposed in On the Origin of Species. I'm very happy to have found this and spent my time listening to it.
September 21, 2023
Concise, articulate, detailed, spectacular. As someone who has a deep interest in evolution, but took my last formal class in the seventies, this provided me a comprehensive update on what we now know.
April 16, 2020
Greatest audiobook i have ever heard in my car
December 31, 2021
Another great course!
August 17, 2022
Simplistic
September 22, 2023
Fun, instructive and well constructed
October 26, 2023
I don't know that much about evolution and I found this lecture series pretty good.
August 27, 2024
Very informative, Professor Solomon is good. A satisfactory crash course on evolutionary biology and its principles. I benefitted greatly from this series.
December 19, 2024
Incredibly interesting, I wish all college-level material could be explained in such a clear and dynamic format.
October 5, 2019
I love this course. So many new knowledge. Mother Nature is amazing. The evolution of life is amazing. It is a great joy to be able to live, see and understand this world.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews