Which of the following is not one of the five distinct ideas of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection?
To determine which of the given options is not part of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, let's go over Darwin's five distinct ideas and compare them to the provided options.
1. Variation: Organisms within a particular species exhibit variations in their traits.
2. Overproduction: Organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support, resulting in competition for resources.
3. Inheritance: Traits are passed from parents to their offspring.
4. Differential survival: Organisms with advantageous traits have a higher chance of surviving and reproducing.
5. Descent with modification: Over time, favorable traits accumulate in a population, leading to the formation of new species.
Now, let's analyze the given options to determine which one does not align with any of the five ideas:
A) Variation: This option is aligned with Darwin's theory, as it acknowledges the presence of variations within a species.
B) Overproduction: This option is also aligned with Darwin's theory, as it recognizes the concept of organisms producing more offspring than the environment can support.
C) Inheritance: This option is aligned with Darwin's theory, as it acknowledges the passing of traits from parents to their offspring.
D) Differential survival: This option is aligned with Darwin's theory, as it emphasizes that organisms with advantageous traits have a higher chance of survival and reproduction.
E) Gradualism: This option is not one of the five distinct ideas of Darwin's theory. Gradualism refers to the idea that change occurs gradually over long periods of time, rather than through sudden, drastic events. While the concept of gradual change is often associated with evolution, it is not one of the specific ideas outlined by Darwin.
Therefore, the correct answer is E) Gradualism, as it is not one of the five distinct ideas of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.