Stretching the points of evolution

Press, 18 December 1982, Page 18

Stretching the points of evolution

The Neck of the Giraffe or Where Darwin Went Wrong. By Francis Hitching. Pan, 1982. 288 pp. Index , and bibliography. $7.95 (paperback). (Reviewed by Colin Webb)

The centenary of Charles Darwin's death has been marked by a number of scientific conferences and a 'flood of serious books about his life and work. In this very readable book, Francis Hitching brings together both old and new criticisms of Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, and ’discusses these in terms readily understood by the nonspecialist. A good number of illustrations. and separate panels elaborating particular points, also aid comprehension of what is very often a misunderstood and misrepresented theory. The first few chapters examine some of the difficulties with the modern, neoDarwinian synthetic theory of evolution, and here the book reads quite convincingly. The problems of reconstructing major evolutionary trends from the fossil record are discussed, as are the difficulties in testing macroevolution because of the time scale over which changes occur. “Scientific” creationism is gently, but decisively, dismissed as religion and, therefore, not a testable scientific alternative. Evolution as such is accepted; s it is the mechanism by which major evolutionary change occurs that is in dispute. We then come to alternative explanations for evolution; in particular theories of catastrophism and the idea that life is self-organising according to

underlying physico-chemical laws. There are two concluding chapters, one on hominid evolution and the other examining the origins and influence of Darwin’s revolutionary ideas. The first few chapters are, in fact, a very critical attack on neo-Darwinism and creationism, and the general reader may be readily convinced by the arguments presented in favour of rejecting both these approaches. It is, then, somewhat surprising when we are encouraged to accept, uncritically, as alternatives a grab-bag of fringe science and theories long since tried and found wanting. To take but two examples: first. Velikovsky's theory that Venus was recently ejected from Jupiter and circled the Earth on numerous occasions before settling into its present orbit, is accepted and these events are supposed to have caused a series of catastrophic changes on earth leading to periods of rapid evolution. Second, a return to Lamarkism and the inheritance of acquired characteristic is advocated on the basis of some recent dubious experiments on the inheritance of tolerance in mice — it is worth noting that attempts to repeat these experiments have failed to show such inheritance. It is unfortunate that such a methodical and experimental worker ■ as Darwin should be compared with such shabby alternatives. It is also unfortunate that recent useful contributions to ideas on macro-evolution — for example the "punctuated equilibria” of Stephen Gould — should be lumped here with a good deal of rubbish which Gould specifically rejects in his own writings. .

A further major fault is the writer’s ignorance of plant evolution, and his obsession with the evolution of mammals, including man. Species evolution through major chromosomal changes is presented as though it were something new, when it has long been accepted by neo-Darwinists as of major importance in speciation in many plant groups and is well documented in the New Zealand flora.

Much of this book is simply compiled from similar secondary popular works, rather than from basic research or authoritative texts. Books such as this misrepresent science — fortunately there are alternative popular, yet sound, accounts of evolutionary biology.

Adults will get as much pleasure as children from taking a ride through a book with the appropriate title "The Train.” Drawn by a young Australian, Witold Generowicz, the book has pages that can be turned one at a time, or. the whole train can be opened out at once to make a frieze more than five metres long.

Through and over a variety of 32 waggons and carriages, two policemen pursue two robbers, dodging circus animals and mysterious cargoes as they go. For those who look closely, each page has a tiny, incongruous touch to the drawing, to spark the imagination. Generowicz says his book can be draped round the walls for those who feel inclined. He claims he owes his inspiration to a love of trains that prompts him to approach a train and pat it whenever he has the opportunity. (Published by Penguin. Australia. 1982. $8.95.) ‘ •