Charles Darwin is widely known as the father of evolutionary biology. It is believed that no one has influenced our knowledge of life on Earth as much as he has. His theory of evolution by natural selection, which has unified the theories of the life sciences, explained where all the diverse living things came from and how they have been able to adapt to their specific environments. His theory reconciled a wide range of evidence to make sense of the facts that evidence has brought up. Darwin's theory has made a great impact, as opinions on it are still debated today, if not more than they were in his time. Even without his theory of evolution, Darwin would still be considered one of the most influential workers in the history of science, as he has done much original work in geology, botany, biogeography, invertebrate zoology, psychology, and scientific travel writing. Darwin's theory states that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor and, over time, as genetic mutations occur within the beings' genetic code, the being reacts and adapts to its surroundings, or evolves. His theory stated that beneficial mutations are preserved as they aid survival, otherwise known as "natural selection." These beneficial mutations were passed down through generations until, over time, the mutations accumulated to the point where the result was an entirely different organism. Natural selection is the preservation of a functional advantage that enables a species to compete better in the wild, more commonly known as "survival of the fittest." Darwin wrote, "…Natural selection acts only by taking advantage of slight successive variations; she can never take a great and sudden leap, but must advance by short and sure, though slow steps." [1] Darwin's Theory of Evolution is said to be a "theory in crisis" due to the tremendous advances we have made in molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics throughout the past fifty years. We know now that there are tens of thousands of irreducibly complex systems on the cellular level. Whether Dawin's Theory of Evolution is true or not, Charles Darwin vastly expanded our knowledge on the world we live in.
Footnotes:
1; Charles Darwin, "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life," 1859, p. 162.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection suggest that the physical environment exerts selective pressure upon adaptive characteristics, which are traits that increase the survival potential of an individual because they enable them to better adapt to their ecological niche. The adaptive traits are genetically transmitted (inherited) because the individual survives to reproduce and this is known as 'survival of the fittest', where fitness is measured by the number of genes present in the next generation.…
- 371 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Charles Darwin’s theory states that the change in evolution is the variation in each generation and different individual surviving features with different combinations of the variable. The Individuals with characteristics that increase their probability of survival will be able to reproduce more often and their offspring will also benefit as there would be an advantage because it would be passed on to the offspring. Over time these variation of characteristics will spread through the population. (College, 2009)…
- 594 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Darwin's theory resides on the presence of Natural Selection in the animal kingdom. This means that favorable genetic mutations are "selected" for in nature, thus accounting for complex and highly specific organisms. The selection of favorable genetics is driven through competition for resources and the production of progeny. However, natural selection is a process dependent on random mutations of an organism’s genetic material. It hinges upon the fact that organisms obtaining randomly generated mutations, that provide a selective advantage in their environment, are more likely to form progeny and pass on their…
- 1584 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
The well known ecologist Charles Darwin exhibited the hypothesis of natural selection. He went on numerous trips to the wildlife, taking after his interest of the nature and the change that happens in the nature. After examining different kinds of living organisms, he clarified Natural Selection as "preservation of favorable variations and the rejecting of injurious variations."(900). Darwin utilized relations and demonstrations to show that distinctive changes happened in the same specie, which assisted them with adapting to their environment.…
- 714 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
- The theory of Natural Selection: the process in which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully than less adapted individuals. Their environment selects the traits.…
- 594 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Darwin claimed that all life had evolved into the present state over millions of years. To explain the long slow process of evolution, Darwin put forth the theory of natural selection. Natural forces selected those with physical traits best adapted to their environment. Darwin never promoted any social ideas. The process of natural selection came to be known as survival of the fittest.…
- 1711 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Natural Selection is when each generation of a species develops new characteristics and adapts more to the environment to survive. This theory of evolution caused some controversy because it contradicted the beliefs of many religious leaders. It also caused scientists studying the field to reevaluate everything that they had learned! Some people tried to use this theory to justify acts like slavery and genocide. Natural Selection was used to imply that these behaviours were natural.…
- 256 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Charles Darwin in 1859 published On the Origin of Species, he explained his theory of evolution. He presented evidence that would further explained his reasoning. The first Darwin looked at the fossils and looked at the geological layers. Next compared the structural of the human hand, bird wing, and a cat paw and hinted that we come from common ancestors. His finally observation was the dramatic change in domestic plants and animals by selective breeding. Darwin believed that species started to change their structure, psychology, and behavior that would help with…
- 173 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
There have been many theories that explain how evolution occurred. Charles Darwin, on the book Origin of Species, spoke about how traits are passed on from generations to generations by natural selection. In addition, he stated how there are four objections to the theory of natural selection, how species can win the struggle for existence through natural selection, and how the origin of species challenges religion.…
- 652 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Evolution is basically the change in the heritable characteristic or traits in living organisms which are passed from one generation to another and gives rise to diversity at every stage of the organism’s biological organisation. The process of evolution was not well understood until 19th century when Charles Darwin proposed the scientific theory of natural selection as a driving tool in evolution. The process involved both the macroevolution in which organisms went through major evolutionary changes over a long period of time and acquired different traits from different parents or ancestries and the microevolution in which a group of organisms went through minimal changes with time but the traits they acquired were typically from the same ancestor.…
- 630 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
We will first start with the theory of evolution. Charles Robert Darwin, was born on the 12th of February 1809, and is the founder of evolutionary theory. He initially planned to follow a medical career, and studied medicine, but later switched to divinity. In 1831, he joined a five year scientific expedition on the survey ship, HMS beagle. While on the ship, Darwin read Lyell’s ‘Principles of Geology’ which suggested that the fossils found in rocks were actually evidence of animals that had lived many thousands or millions of years ago. But, Lyell’s argument was instated and reinforced in Darwin’s own mind when the ship reached the Galapagos Island. Here he observed the rich variety of animal life and this is where the inspiration for his theory came. Darwin noticed that each island supported its own form of finch; they were closely related between islands but had key differences. On Darwin’s return, he…
- 873 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
Darwin’s theory of evolution is based on the theory of natural selection. Natural selection is the the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This theory is now widely believed by many people throughout the world. Charles Darwin’s theory includes the idea that fossils of extinct animals turn up where similar animals live today. Darwin came up with this theory when he discovered fossils of animals that were very similar to the animals that were living today. Darwin also observed that the Galapagos tortoise’s had different shapes of their shells depending on which island they came from. Darwin believed that these tortoises were adapting to their environment by changing their shell…
- 235 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
In Darwinian terms, evolution refers to changes accumulated by natural selection in living things, especially regarding species formation. Darwin's theory is based on the fact that natural selection is the cause of evolution5. The action of…
- 3622 Words
- 15 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Charles Darwin provided a mechanism for the theory of Biological Evolution, which is what separates him from previous researchers. Before Darwin’s theory of biological evolution by natural selection, the ancient Greeks were the first to attempt to understand our place in the natural world. Following the Greeks, was Aristotle, he believed that each living form had attributes that could not be altered, therefore, fitting in an ordered rank ladder, and that human beings were at the top of the ladder. Before the 19th century most naturalist believed that there was a single creation event—influenced by the church’s beliefs (Stanford 17). Even then, naturalists continued to develop classifications for animals and plants. John Ray was the first to…
- 547 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Natural selection was a fundamental idea formed by Darwin that living things evolve gradually from generation to generation. Darwin argues that all living species come to historical process through a historical process involving random changes. Through natural selection living things have acquired to behave in ways that provide the promotion of survival and reproduction.…
- 300 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays