Charles Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection, or evolution by any other name, was first presented in 1858. It explains adaptation and variations in organisms and species. Natural selection occurs when organisms differ in their phenotype. Natural selection is based on an organism’s phenotype. The phenotype results from the interaction between the genotype of an organism and its environment. The phenotype depends on the genotype, or genetic makeup of the organism.
Darwin popularized this term in On The Origin Of Species. The book was released in 1858. Darwin states in his book that natural selection is a process whereby “changes in conditions of life tend to increase variation.” He also says that nature, or the survival of the fittest as Darwin calls it, does not care what appearances are, except if they’re useful. An example would be the camouflage that any creature has that helps them survive, by allowing them either to hide or to avoid predators. All organisms have variations. The adaptation is the main cause of the variation. It can be due to random DNA mutations.
As an organism grows, its genomes will interact with their environment. This interaction causes changes in the traits of the organism that are then passed on to their children. A genome is the biology of a cell. A genome is a complete set or genetic material in a cell. Organisms with specific variations of traits can reproduce and pass on their traits to other organisms. The population then evolves. Darwin wrote in his book that, “No country has been named where all of the natives have become perfectly adapted” to eachother and the physical environments they live.
This statement, although made in 1858, is still true today due to global warming. He also explains “we can’t see anything of these gradual changes until time has passed and we see how the world is changing.”
Natural selection works as follows. Organisms have to fight for survival in their environments. Only the strongest of the species can reproduce.
