Evolution has provided humans with the unique ability to run and exercise eight hours a day, yet most humans are only receiving an average of 30 minutes worth of exercise a day, said Dennis Bramble, a biology professor at the U who studies evolution and the ability to run.
“It’s like buying a great car and putting it in the garage,” Bramble said. He spoke Wednesday night about the evolution of humans as part of the US Darwin Day celebration. He discussed theories about what made it possible for humans to become runners despite being slow animals and lacking traditional anatomical specializations.
“Because human running developed on an atypical anatomical platform, The human body exhibits several related and unique modifications found in no other mammal,” Bramble said.
Among the transformations that have made humans able to run are head stabilization techniques, a gap between the ribs and hips and the Achilles tendon, which acts as a leg spring while running, he said.
Bramble acknowledged Charles Darwin’s scientific advancements and said that without Darwin he would never have thought about or researched how humans developed the ability to exercise.
“Darwin gave us a way of looking at ourselves that we didn’t have,” Bramble said. “He set the stage for a different kind of perception for human kind.”
The U is hosting several events to mark Darwin’s 200th birthday. Darwin was born February 12, 1809. This year is also the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s leading work On the Origin of Species.
Darwin Day honors his contributions in advancing scientific knowledge through his development of the theory of evolution and natural selection.
Darwin collected scientific data of animals and plants for more than 20 years to understand their ability to morph over long periods of time. He realized that natural selection is the process primarily involved with evolution. His theories and studies pushed scientific knowledge and understanding to the next level.
Eli Cohen, a senior in biology, said that evolution explains every biological fact or phenomenon that we come across.
Cohen quoted Theodosius Dobzhansky, who said, “Nothing in biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution.” Biology could not stand, Cohen said, without the perspectives that Darwin applied and formalized.
“It’s the most fundamental building block of biology,” he said.
The Marriott Library is displaying a collection of first-edition books by Darwin, his predecessors and his contemporaries from its rare collections. The exhibition includes literature by Francis Bacon, Aristotle and Erasmus Darwin, Charles Darwin’s grandfather. The exhibit is on display through Feb. 27 in the special collections gallery on the fourth floor.
Among the books is a handwritten letter from Darwin to a person only referenced as “Dear Sir.” Darwin was in constant correspondence to colleagues during his time working in the field. He sent them specimen samples and notes on his discoveries. John Gould received such samples. Darwin sent him remains of a bird thought to be an ostrich for him to study.
A film series dedicated to Darwin’s work is being shown twice a week until March 4 at the Marriott Library. The films include “Voyage to the Galapagos,” “Darwin’s Revolution in Thought,” “Charles Darwin: Evolution’s Voice” and “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea.” For a complete listing of the films and times visit http://darwin2009.utah.edu.