On a wing and a prayer: the biomechanics of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Haughton (1821-1897).

摘要: In 1873, Samuel Haughton published Principles of Animal Mechanics. Based on research begun in 1862, it was a response to Darwin's The Origin Species by Means Natural Selection three years earlier. this article, the nature Haughton's biomechanical researches is described reviewing and re-analysing some his original work. He showed how muscles could be seen as designed carry out maximum amount work with least expenditure energy. used results argue against theory natural selection, "unproved hypothesis" called it. Despite correspondence Darwin, received no scientific rebuttal arguements. To day, would seem, there lack concordance between view organic life "optimised" evolutionary under continual transformation forms descended "from supposed common ancestor."