
What Darwin Didn’t Know: The Modern Science of Evolution
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Narrated by:
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Scott Solomon
About this listen
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 NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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How is it that our brain creates all the subjective experiences of our lives every single day - the experiences we call reality? That is the mind-body problem. In Mind-Body Philosophy, Professor Patrick Grim of the State University of New York at Stony Brook leads an intellectually exhilarating tour through millennia of philosophy and science addressing one of life's greatest conundrums. But you won't just be a spectator as Dr. Grim engages and encourages each of us to come to our own conclusions.
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Another Great Courses Homerun!
- By Mike on 01-24-17
By: Patrick Grim, and others
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The Search for Exoplanets: What Astronomers Know
- By: The Great Courses, Joshua N. Winn
- Narrated by: Professor Joshua N. Winn
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
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As recently as 1990, it seemed plausible that the solar system was a unique phenomenon in our galaxy. Thanks to advances in technology and clever new uses of existing data, now we know that planetary systems and possibly even a new Earth can be found throughout galaxies near and far.
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Fun across the universe
- By Mark on 01-08-16
By: The Great Courses, and others
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Plant Science: An Introduction to Botany
- By: Catherine Kleier, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Catherine Kleier
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
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Dr. Catherine Kleier invites us to open our eyes to the phenomenal world of plant life and to the process she calls “Natura Revelata”, the joy of celebrating and learning from the secrets of nature. As Dr. Kleier shares her knowledge with contagious excitement for her subject, she emphasizes the middle ground: Instead of focusing on cell microbiology or the study of ecosystems and habitats, she stresses the basic biology, function, and the amazing adaptations of the plants we see all around us.
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Needs accompanying documentation and visual aides
- By Ryan on 04-04-19
By: Catherine Kleier, and others
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London in the Time of Dickens
- By: Lillian Nayder, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lillian Nayder
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
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In London in the Time of Dickens, you’ll get the unique opportunity to experience the British capital through the eyes of a literary master whose work is inextricably tied to the city and its rich history. Throughout 12 lectures taught by Professor Lillian Nayder of Bates College, you’ll tour the city of London in a time of rapid transformation through the life and work of Charles Dickens, uncovering the history of the metropolis, while also witnessing the everyday experiences of Londoners from all walks of life as Dickens represents them.
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The book read like an interesting Biography and at the same time it painted what was going on in London at that time !😊
- By miriam wismar on 12-02-23
By: Lillian Nayder, and others
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The Evidence for Modern Physics
- How We Know What We Know
- By: Professor Don Lincoln, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Don Lincoln
- Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins
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In this 24-lesson course aimed at non-scientists, noted particle physicist Dr. Don Lincoln of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory covers more than a century of progress in physics, describing exactly how scientists reach the conclusions they do. He starts with the atom, which was long hypothesized but wasn’t definitively proven until a paper by Albert Einstein in 1905. That was just the beginning, as researchers probed ever deeper into the atom’s complex structure, leading to the weird findings of quantum mechanics.
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Strongly Recommend for Everyone
- By Liam A on 05-23-21
By: Professor Don Lincoln, and others
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Understanding the Brain
- By: Jeanette Norden, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jeanette Norden
- Length: 18 hrs and 28 mins
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Considering everything the brain does, how can it possibly be the source of our personalities, dreams, thoughts, sensations, utterances, and movements? Understanding the Brain, a 36-lecture course by award-winning Professor Jeanette Norden of Vanderbilt University, takes you inside this astonishingly complex organ and shows you how it works. With its combination of neurology, biology, and psychology, this course helps you understand how we perceive the world through our senses, how we move, how we learn and remember, and how emotions affect our thoughts and actions.
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This is essentially a scam
- By George H. on 05-23-19
By: Jeanette Norden, and others
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Being Human: Life Lessons from the Frontiers of Science
- By: Robert Sapolsky, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: The Great Courses
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
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Understanding our humanity - the essence of who we are - is one of the deepest mysteries and biggest challenges in modern science. Why do we have bad moods? Why are we capable of having such strange dreams? How can metaphors in our language hold such sway on our actions? As we learn more about the mechanisms of human behavior through evolutionary biology, neuroscience, anthropology, and other related fields, we're discovering just how intriguing the human species is.
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Somewhat Interesting but not Quite as Advertised
- By Adam J Duhame on 10-05-13
By: Robert Sapolsky, and others
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The Greek World
- A Study of History and Culture
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Robert Garland
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
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The ancient Greeks, more than any other early culture, have given us the template for Western civilization, as seen in their superlative achievements in the fields of architecture, political theory, philosophy, science, and art - not the least of which are their inventions of democracy and drama. In these 24 compelling lectures, Professor Garland guides you in a richly illuminating exploration of what the ancient Greeks have given us, and why they’re still important to us today.
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Political correct digressions every five minutes
- By Sofia on 11-11-20
By: Robert Garland, and others
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Crashes and Crises: Lessons from a History of Financial Disasters
- By: Connel Fullenkamp, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Connel Fullenkamp
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Professor Connel Fullenkamp of Duke University guides listeners through four centuries of economic disasters - from tulip mania in the 1600s to the Great Recession of 2007-2009. Each of his 24 lectures covers a notable incident of financial misfortune or folly that is worthy of a Hollywood thriller.
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BEST explainer out there hits a new high level
- By Philo on 09-22-18
By: Connel Fullenkamp, and others
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Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, 2nd Edition
- By: Richard Wolfson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Richard Wolfson
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
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"It doesn't take an Einstein to understand modern physics," says Professor Wolfson at the outset of these 24 lectures on what may be the most important subjects in the universe: relativity and quantum physics. Both have reputations for complexity. But the basic ideas behind them are, in fact, simple and comprehensible by anyone. These dynamic and illuminating lectures begin with a brief overview of theories of physical reality starting with Aristotle and culminating in Newtonian or "classical" physics.
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Great primer for hard SF fans and physics laymen
- By David on 01-05-15
By: Richard Wolfson, and others
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1066: The Year That Changed Everything
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 3 hrs
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With this exciting and historically rich six-lecture course, experience for yourself the drama of this dynamic year in medieval history, centered on the landmark Norman Conquest. Taking you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, these lectures will plunge you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, epic military invasions, and much more.
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History brought to life
- By Joshua on 07-10-13
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
keeps you engaged and imagining
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Excellent and clear
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Of course, he did not know many things that were not discovered yet at the time. But the insight is tremendous, unbelievable at times when he talks about heredity at the time when genes were not known.
So, the book talks a lot about genetics, and weaves science history into Darwin's biography. This is a great combination that keeps us interested at all time. Modern science is an extra layer on top of Darwin's life and scientific developments before him.
And it's just the way I like it: popular science in historic context with great personalities added into the mix.
Well written, keeps you interested
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new information throughout
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Start Slowly, Taper Off from There
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The lecturer uses "uptalk" which, if you're familiar with it? you might like? but I find it annoying.
That is easy to get used to, though, and I highly recommend this course.
Great summary!
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Phenomenal
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Fantastic lectures on evolution
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Excellent review with great details
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If you don't mind the same repetitive statement-as-a-question and rise-and-fall vocal inflections over and over while the cluttered PDF is basically read to you for 12 hours then you might enjoy this, but I'm trying to finish it and am disappointed in the product so far.
Specifically, I think the way the information itself is organized could use some punching up and editing to create better flow. Some sentences and paragraphs are too choppy in structure while others are just blunt recitation of researched fact. The subjects of the sentences shift too frequently within paragraphs, which makes the delivery of the already fractured material even more scattered.
It's a nice looking PDF, but it needs a skilled editor and narrator to be a good audiobook.
Like having a term paper read to you for 12 hours
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