Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
Charles Robert Darwin gave the theory of evolution in his famous book ‘The Origin of Species’. The theory of evolution proposed by Darwin is known as ’The Theory of Natural Selection’. This theory is called the theory of Natural Selection because it suggests that the best adapted organisms are selected by nature to pass on their characteristics (or traits) to the next generation. It applies to plans as well as animals.
Darwin’s Theory postulates:
1. Within any population, there is natural variation. Some individuals have more favourable variations than others.
2. Even though all species produce a large number of offsprings, populations remain fairly constant naturally.
3. This is due to the struggle between members of the same species and different species for food, space and mate.
4. The struggle for survival within populations eliminates the unfit individuals. The fit individuals possessing favourable variations survive and reproduce. This is called natural selection (or survival of fittest).
5. The individuals having favourable variations pass on these variations to their progeny from generation to generation.
6. These variations when accumulated over a long period of time, lead to the origin of a new species.
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