ABSTRACT
Ever since life originated, it has existed in a constant state of change. Ultimately, these changes generated the many varieties of organisms that we see in our species-diverse world. In this chapter, ideas about how this diversity arose are explored, and the mechanisms that gave rise to the rich tapestry of life are examined. In particular, the genetic insights put forth by Gregor Mendel and the theory of evolution generated by Charles Darwin are analyzed. The impact Mendel’s and Darwin’s ideas had on our understanding of life is also considered. The end of the chapter investigates the question of whether humans were destined to arise on Earth. To explore the answer to this question, the evidence for the existence of physical determinism is scrutinized and the role of contingency and convergence within evolving systems is contemplated.
