FT247

Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was published 150 years ago. The idea of a “tree of life” had existed previously, but by introducing the idea of mutation Darwin showed how new twigs and branches formed. Every living thing would be assigned its place, and science would tidy up all the loose ends. In fact, the reverse happened. Molecular biology found snake genes in cows, algæ genes in sea slugs and a veritable legion of viruses incorporated into human genetic makeup. We are all, it seems, monstrous hybrids… what’s going on?


For a century after Darwin, the mechanism by which inherited traits were passed down remained a mystery.