Evolution by Natural Selection

Evolution by Natural Selection

Introduction

Charles Darwin developed the theory of natural selection in an attempt to explain the origin of life on Earth. The theory makes two bold claims. The first claim is that a large group of diverse organisms normally evolves from a small number of ancestors. The second claim in the theory is that the evolution takes place by a mechanism that Darwin called “Natural Selection” (Browne, 1995). In natural selection, different forces of nature combine to ensure that only the best-suited organisms survive to reproduce. Organisms that are less adapted reduce in number until they are completely eradicated.

Principles in Darwin’s Theory

Darwin divided his theory further into several principles. One of the principles that Darwin put forward in his theory is that in each generation, organisms produce excessive numbers of offspring who are very different. This works towards the benefit of the species as it guarantees continuity. Some of the individuals will die before they get the chance to reproduce but others will survive and ensure that the species continues to exist. However, the large number of individuals also means that there will be a strain on the resources available, forcing the organisms to be in competition with each other for survival. The offspring with the better traits will be stronger and will triumph over the weaker spawn. This process ensures that over time, a species becomes stronger.

Another principle that Darwin put forward is that of divergence (Browne, 1995). This principle claims that if a species has varieties that make the different individuals suited to different niches, then the variation can result in a complete divergence even if the two species are in the same geographic location. Darwin developed this theory after studying finches that he found on the Galapagos Islands (Browne, 1995). Some of the finches had shorter beaks, which made them better suited at eating seeds from the ground, while the longer beaked birds picked their seeds from fruits and branches. These finches would then stay within their niches and reproduce in a way that their offspring would always have a beak similar to the parents. Continued reproduction within the respective niches would ensure that the finches ended up diverging into completely different species that could not breed. This resulted in longer and shorter beaked finches.

The third principle in Darwin’s theory explains the mechanism that applies in natural selection. This principle claims that the survival of certain individuals within a species is not random but determined by the specific traits that the species bears. Naturally, the species with the traits that are best suited for the struggle for resources are the ones that will live long enough to spawn. The weaker individuals will die off and this will help the species to become stronger in future (Browne, 1995).

Strength of Darwin’s Theory

Darwin travelled around the world as he made his theory become more concrete. His understanding of both geology and biology helped him come up with a concrete theory, as he was able to combine the two disciplines to prove his hypotheses (Browne, 1995). During these travels, he found evidence in different places that inspired him to dig deeper and try to understand the different issues surrounding his theory. For example, when he was at the Galapagos Islands, he noticed that the tortoises from different islands were distinctly different (Browne, 1995). He wondered why this was the case and this inspired him to dig deeper and find out why some animals of the same species were varied. He also found his theory to be convincing because he knew that he had inherited some traits from his parents and this emboldened his ideas.

 

References

Browne, E. J. (1995). Charles Darwin: A biography. New York: Knopf.

 

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