What Darwin Never Knew - The Science Behind Evolution DVD

Earth teems with a staggering variety of animals, including 9,000 kinds of birds, 28,000 types of fish, and more than 350,000 species of beetles. What explains this explosion of living creatures - 1.4 million different species discovered so far, with perhaps another 50 million to go? The source of lifes endless forms was a profound mystery until Charles Darwin brought forth his revolutionary idea of natural selection. But Darwins radical insights raised as many questions as they answered. What actually drives evolution and turns one species into another? To what degree do different animals rely on the same genetic toolkit? And how did we evolve? What Darwin Never Knew offers answers to riddles that Darwin couldnt explain. Breakthroughs in a brand new science-nicknamed evo devo-are linking the enigmas of evolution to another of natures great mysteries, the development of the embryo. NOVA takes viewers on a journey from the Galapagos Islands to the Arctic, and from the explosion of animal forms half a billion years ago to the research labs of today. Scientists are finally beginning to crack natures biggest secrets at the genetic level. The results are confirming the brilliance of Darwins insights while revealing clues to lifes breathtaking diversity in ways the great naturalist could scarcely have imagined.