S6.18: An Evolutionary Revolutionary: Alfred Russel Wallace and the discovery of natural selection

Hello, and welcome to Genetics Unzipped - the Genetics Society podcast, with me, Dr Sally Le Page. In this episode I’m chatting with Professor Jim Costa, learning about one of the less known - but by no means less accomplished - founding fathers of biology: Alfred Russel Wallace.

“Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution”

So said the geneticist Theodosius Dobzhansky, and as a former evolutionary biologist, I’d have to agree. The discovery of natural selection - that is the non-random differences in reproductive success between individuals - as the driving force behind evolution, adaptation and the origin of species was one of the most important discoveries in the history of science. So important, it was discovered…twice.

Yes, you heard that right. Natural selection was discovered twice, by two separate people, independently of each other. One is of course, the famous Charles Darwin, who more than deserves his place as the most famous biologist of all time. But the other, Alfred Russel Wallace, is often resigned to a footnote, an addendum to Darwin’s story; the man who spurred Darwin into writing his ideas down in The Origin of Species.

Image courtesy of Prof. Jim Costa

Jim Costa: Alfred Russel Wallace, a radical by nature

Today we’re flipping the switch, and telling Wallace’s story. So to do that, I sat down with Professor Jim Costa, an evolutionary biologist and entomologist at Western Carolina University who recently published a book called Radical By Nature: the Revolutionary Life of Alfred Russel Wallace. And as it’s a very good place to start, I decided to start at the very beginning: who was Alfred Russel Wallace?

Click here to read the full transcript…

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This episode of Genetics Unzipped was written, presented and produced by me, Sally Le Page. It’s a First Create the Media production for The Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies dedicated to promoting research, training, teaching and public engagement in all areas of genetics. You can find out more and apply to join at genetics.org.uk.  The executive producer is Kat Arney, our theme music was composed by Dan Pollard, the logo was designed by James Mayall, and audio production was by Emma Werner. Thanks for listening, and until next time, goodbye.