What is the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin?
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, expressed in the book, “The Origin of Species,” radically changed thinking about how species evolve and change. Up till that point, the prevailing theory was Jean Lamarck’s conclusion that animals acquired (or lost) traits through use during their lives, and then passed those acquired traits to their offspring.Charles Darwin’s JourneyIn 1831, Darwin began a five-year trip aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, on a voyage to South America and the South Pacific. While in the Galapagos Islands, he noted the number of different bird species on the islands and tried to account for their diversity. He believed that the difference could be accounted for by the birds’ adaptation through natural selection to the differing environments of the islands.Underlying PrinciplesDarwin’s theory of evolution is based on the idea that there is genetic variety in every population. Species process more offspring than can survive, forcing competition for limited resources. Individua
