Ernst Mayr: The Architect of Modern Evolutionary Biology

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Ernst Mayr: The DarÂwin of the 20th CenÂtuÂry
- EarÂly Life and PasÂsion:
- Born in GerÂmany in 1904.
- EarÂly fasÂciÂnaÂtion with birds sparked his interÂest in biolÂoÂgy.
- DefinÂing a Species:
- RevÂoÂluÂtionÂized the conÂcept of a species.
- Defined a species as a group of interÂbreedÂing popÂuÂlaÂtions reproÂducÂtiveÂly isoÂlatÂed from othÂers.
- This defÂiÂnÂiÂtion became a corÂnerÂstone of modÂern biolÂoÂgy.
- ExplorÂing the OriÂgin of Species:
- InvesÂtiÂgatÂed the mechÂaÂnisms of evoÂluÂtion.
- Focused on how new species arise and adapt.
- Made the oriÂgin of species diverÂsiÂty a cenÂtral quesÂtion in evoÂluÂtionÂary biolÂoÂgy.
- LegaÂcy and RecogÂniÂtion:
- Long and influÂenÂtial career at HarÂvard UniÂverÂsiÂty.
- Received the “triple crown” of biolÂoÂgy awards:
- Balzan Prize
- InterÂnaÂtionÂal Prize for BiolÂoÂgy
- CrafoÂord Prize
- RecÂogÂnized as one of the greatÂest sciÂenÂtists of all time.
- Impact:
- Shaped our underÂstandÂing of the livÂing world.
- His work conÂtinÂues to inspire and guide research in evoÂluÂtionÂary biolÂoÂgy.