Darwin's Theory Of Natural Selection
Natural Selection is “a mechanism… whereby an organism has characteristics enabling it to survive under current environment conditions. It will then pass these characteristics to its offspring” .
The theory of Natural Selection was first published by Charles Darwin in the 19th century after hearing that another scientist, Alfred Wallace, was publishing a similar theory. The basis of their theories was:
1. Variation in traits within individuals in specie’s generation.
2. Heritability- where some beneficial characteristics are passed onto the offspring.
3. High reproduction- more offspring are produced so they can survive and reproduce.
Genes are essential when understanding Natural Selection as they get passed on from one generation to the next by reproduction. Genes that produce traits that allow organisms to be better at surviving and reproducing in a population are more likely to get passed on than genes that produce traits that make the organisms inferior. Therefore, ultimately the genes that produce the traits beneficial at making the organism more likely to survive in its environment will become more widespread throughout a species population. …show more content…
Using pea plants to understand how traits are carried on from one generation to the next, noting that not all characteristics were seen in every plant. He was the first to understand how what he called ‘factors’ (genes) passed on traits to the next generation and plants with two parent plants can inherit traits from both or sometimes it will not appear until a later generation. Mendel was alive at the same time as Darwin but it was not until later times that genes were found to participate in Natural Selection. Additionally, this is can be seen in sexually reproducing organisms, where male and female sex cells contain half the genes needed and when combined form the beginnings of new life and distinctive mix of both parents’
The theory of Natural Selection was first published by Charles Darwin in the 19th century after hearing that another scientist, Alfred Wallace, was publishing a similar theory. The basis of their theories was:
1. Variation in traits within individuals in specie’s generation.
2. Heritability- where some beneficial characteristics are passed onto the offspring.
3. High reproduction- more offspring are produced so they can survive and reproduce.
Genes are essential when understanding Natural Selection as they get passed on from one generation to the next by reproduction. Genes that produce traits that allow organisms to be better at surviving and reproducing in a population are more likely to get passed on than genes that produce traits that make the organisms inferior. Therefore, ultimately the genes that produce the traits beneficial at making the organism more likely to survive in its environment will become more widespread throughout a species population. …show more content…
Using pea plants to understand how traits are carried on from one generation to the next, noting that not all characteristics were seen in every plant. He was the first to understand how what he called ‘factors’ (genes) passed on traits to the next generation and plants with two parent plants can inherit traits from both or sometimes it will not appear until a later generation. Mendel was alive at the same time as Darwin but it was not until later times that genes were found to participate in Natural Selection. Additionally, this is can be seen in sexually reproducing organisms, where male and female sex cells contain half the genes needed and when combined form the beginnings of new life and distinctive mix of both parents’