Different Aspects of Evolution: 150th Anniversary of the Origins of Species" was held on December 16, 2009 at Bilkent University, to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of The Origins of Species by Charles Darwin. The Science and Scientific Philosophy Circle organized the seminar with support from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics.
Academics from various universities and faculties discussed various aspects of evolution theory and species origins in a complimenting multidisciplinary approach.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Meral Kence (METU Dept. of Mol. Bio. and Genetics) chaired the seminar and delivered a brief background information on Darwin and his work. Lectures were as follows:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman Gürel (Ankara U. Fac. of Science, Dept. of Chemistry) spoke about the "Evolution of Life on Earth," discussing the differences between biotic and a-biotic entities, and questioning how life originated on Earth;
Asst. Prof. Dr. Uygar Tazebay (Bilkent U. Fac. of Science, Dept. of Mol. Bio. and Gen.) explained the "Evolution of the Genome," with many examples, presenting his laboratory findings on how the genome creates a morphological alternative to itself during this evolution;
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Sol (METU Dept. of Phil.) drew a different perspective. He asked the audience to contemplate his speech about "Why is Naturalism the Foundation of the Theory of Evolution? Why should it be so?";
Prof. Dr. Yaman Örs (Ankara U. Fac. of Med., Science and Scientific Philosophy Circle) discussed "Does Philosophy of Biology = Philosophy of Evolution? A search for an answer from a book's perspective," from Elliott Sober's book "Philosophy of Biology" that has been recently translated to Turkish and published by Ýmge Kitabevi.
Seminar proceedings will be published in a book from the Science and Scientific Philosophy Circle. Contact: Dr. Kumru Arapgirlioðlu Dept. of Urban Design and Landscape Architecture. kumru@bilkent.edu.tr. 
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