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Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

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Last broadcast on Thu, 1 Oct 2009, 21:00 on BBC Four (see all broadcasts).

Synopsis

David Attenborough asks three key questions: how and why did Darwin come up with his theory of evolution? Why do we think he was right? And why is it more important now than ever before?

David starts his journey in Darwin's home at Down House in Kent, where Darwin worried and puzzled over the origins of life. David goes back to his roots in Leicestershire, where he hunted for fossils as a child, and where another schoolboy unearthed a significant find in the 1950s. And he revisits Cambridge University, where both he and Darwin studied, and where many years later the DNA double helix was discovered, providing the foundations for genetics.

At the end of his journey in the Natural History Museum in London, David concludes that Darwin's great insight revolutionised the way in which we see the world. We now understand why there are so many different species, and why they are distributed in the way they are. But above all, Darwin has shown us that we are not set apart from the natural world, and do not have dominion over it. We are subject to its laws and processes, as are all other animals on earth to which, indeed, we are related.

The BBC Darwin season

Find out about other programmes in the BBC's Darwin season.

BBC Darwin

MORE ON DARWIN

The BBC has joined forces with The Open University to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication On The Origin Of Species.

Visit the Darwin site on Open2.net

INTERACTIVE TREE OF LIFE

After transmission you can explore and download the interactive Tree of Life animation, courtesy of The Wellcome Trust.

Go to the Tree of Life animation

Evolution on your wall

Get your very own full-colour Tree of Life poster from The Open University.

Order your free Tree of Life wall poster

Join the evolution debate

Add your thoughts and comments about Darwin to the forum.

Join the debate at Open2.net

Credits

Presenter
David Attenborough
Producer
Sacha Mirzoeff

Broadcasts

  1. Sun 1 Feb 2009
    21:00
  2. Sun 1 Feb 2009
    21:00
  3. Sat 7 Feb 2009
    20:00
  4. Mon 9 Feb 2009
    00:40
  5. Mon 9 Feb 2009
    20:00
  6. Wed 18 Feb 2009
    01:45
  7. Wed 25 Mar 2009
    21:00
  8. Sun 3 May 2009
    22:00
  9. Thu 1 Oct 2009
    21:00

More details

Duration

60 minutes

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