Question

Discuss how Darwin’s view of evolution required slow, gradual change (‘Darwinian gradualism’) and compare it to the model developed by Stephen J. Gould known as ‘Punctuated Equilibrium.’

Answer 1

Gradualism and Punctuated equilibrium are the two theories which propose to explain the process of evolution of a species.

Darwin used the phrase "Survival of the fittest".Darwin's view of evolution was that there were gradual changes in the characteristics of a population which then evolved into a new species over a long period of time.The changes in characteristics of the population were due to the process of natural selection.The organism having certain trait which enables them to survive an adverse environment thrive and so the population is mostly composed of those people then.So over time; the characteristics of the populations.The changes are gradual and constant.

The theory of punctuated equilibrium proposes that there were periods of huge change caused by the mutations in DNA or sudden large changes in the environment.During this time period; the characteristics of the population changed drastically because the organism with the mutation survived better.But then there is a period of no change(So the change is punctuated and it is like a period of equilibrium).The idea of punctuated equilibrium arose when the researchers foumd tge fossil of two different species without the fossils of the intermediate species.So they reasoned that some drastic changes occurred in the population rapidly so that the intermediate species didnt evolve.

Now scientists are proposing that evolution could have occurred by either of the two methods in a particular population or even both.