Paean to a leader in evolutionary theory.Paean to a leader in evolutionary theory Stephen Jay Gould Noun 1. Stephen Jay Gould - United States paleontologist and popularizer of science (1941-2002) Gould of Harvard University told his fellow paleontologists in Boulder that he has had only two great heroes in his life. "Joe DiMaggio is the first; I patterned my batting stance after him," Gould said. "George Gaylord Simpson George Gaylord Simpson (June 16, 1902 – October 6, 1984) was an American paleontologist. He was an expert on extinct mammals and their intercontinental migrations. Simpson was the most influential paleontologist of the twentieth century and a major participant in the Modern is the second; I patterned my life after him." Gould's remark was typical of the high praise heaped upon the late Simpson at the meeting. The scientists spent an afternoon assessing Simpson's work on theories of evolution rates and the impact Simpson has had on paleontology paleontology (pā'lēəntŏl`əjē) [Gr.,= study of early beings], science of the life of past geologic periods based on fossil remains. . Simpson, a former curator of the American Museum of Natural History American Museum of Natural History, incorporated in New York City in 1869 to promote the study of natural science and related subjects. Buildings on its present site were opened in 1877. in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , and author of 40 books (the most famous being Tempo and Mode of Evolution) and 760 papers, died nearly two years ago at the age of 82. Before Simpson began his work in the mid-1930s, the great majority of paleontologists did not accept Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Simpson, who did believe in natural selection, spent much of his career applying evidence from the fossil record to the theory. Most notably, he developed theories about rates of evolution and why some species evolve faster than others. It is his legacy that today, the great majority of paleontologists believe in natural selection. "Simpson made paleontology a partner in evolutionary theory," Gould says. |
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