Darwin's Galapagos

This year marks the bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species, which laid out his theory of evolution.

Four scientists from Cambridge University, where Darwin was a student, explain how his ideas continue to influence their work.

The astrophysicist The immunologist

The anthropologist The neuroscientist

The astrophysicist

Could life be evolving on another planet?

Lord Martin Rees is a Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge.

He asks if Darwinian evolution is unique to our planet - or if it may have led to other wonderful biospheres across the Universe.

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The anthropologist

'Nothing about biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution'

Professor Robert Foley is an evolutionary anthropologist.

He believes that Darwin matters almost more today than at the time when On the Origin of Species was published.

Professor Foley says that Darwin was critical in helping to answer the question: why are humans the way they are?

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The immunologist

Host-pathogen interactions were described in Darwin's vision of evolution

Professor Jim Kaufman is an evolutionary immunologist.

He explains how the evolutionary arms race between pathogen and host - an idea described by Darwin - is very much evident today.

From the influenza A virus, to HIV/AIDS and avian flu, the battle continues, he explains.

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The neuroscientist

Evolution can explain how mammalian babies control their own destiny. Filming permission: King's College Cambridge

Professor Barry Keverne is a behavioural neuroscientist.

Maternal care is a unique characteristic in mammals, and Professor Keverene takes a Darwinian approach in trying to understand this, examining the selection pressures and mechanisms that could have brought this about.

He explains how two genomes, both foetal and maternal, have co-adapted in one individual - the mother.

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