I know a little about the Theory of Evolution and have read some parts of On the Origin of Species, but to look at the exhibits is a different thing altogether. Admittedly, I'm rather disappointed by the number of exhibits - much too few. Nonetheless, there are a few take back.
A recent article in The Economist compares Darwin as important in scientific contribution as Kepler . Both scientists' theories revolutionize the way we view the world.This is the 6th edition of the Origin of Species, by means of Natural Selection. Wow!
I don't know Wallace ever come to Singapore, and that the Malay Archipelago is of so much interest to him. I also don't know the Orang Utan is of such importance to the theory. Honestly, I have never been really fascinated about Orang Utan.
When Queen Victoria saw an Orang Utan in London Zoo, she remarked that it was
"frightful, and painfully and disagreeably human."
But don't be mistaken, we are not really that similar. Actually, genetically, we are more related to chimpanzee as the 2 videos below shows:
A Tale on Tails
My first reaction when I see this chart is similar to the reaction of many Darwin's contemporaries when they know about the Origin of Species : this is so simple, why haven't I thought of it!
I have been to wet fish market, supermarket, aquarium, dive in some many places ... I have ate so many of them and yet ... it never come across to me that the tails of the fishes are evolved to adapt to their livelihood.
Tuna and swordfish have tails which propels very fast to enable them to over long distances, but are not able to perform quick manoeuvre ( because there is not much need to). On the other hand, slow swimmers like flounders have round fins that are flexible which help them to escape ...I would sure look at a fish tail with a different light now.
More details in the picture!(click to enlarge)
And if you notice, the tails of mammals ( dolphins, whales ...) living in the sea are entirely different! Marine mammals generally flap up-and-down for propulsion, rather than left-and-right like in the fishes.Garden of Evolution
Then I visited the Garden of Evolution. I have been there before a few years back, but after visiting the exhibitions of Wallace and Darwin, I can appreciate the seemingly empty stuff more, much much more.
Life began as a primordial soup?
I have always been interested in graphical representation and charting. What strikes me in this one chart that contains so much information - different types of green plants at different time periods, the temperature range and diversity . So DENSE in information, yet some simple to read. Elegant!
The evolution of life from primordial soup of chemicals seems unbelievable. A search in Youtube on the tree of life gives:
Honestly, after watching the video ... still unbelievable! Wow.
Okay , enough of chim chim stuff ... On another note ...
These brightly coloured insects is actually parasitic. Ouch!
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