What was Darwin theory of natural selection based on
Darwin's theory of natural selection was based on several key observations and ideas:
1. Variation: Darwin noticed that there is a wide variation in traits among individuals within a species. No two individuals are exactly alike.
2. Overproduction: Darwin observed that organisms tend to produce more offspring than can possibly survive to adulthood. This results in competition for resources and survival among individuals of the same species.
3. Struggle for Existence: Due to overproduction, individuals within a population must compete for limited resources such as food, shelter, and mates. This creates a "struggle for existence" in which only the fittest individuals are able to survive and reproduce.
4. Differential Reproduction: Since only a limited number of individuals can survive and reproduce, those with better adaptations or traits that provide a competitive advantage are more likely to pass on their genes to future generations.
5. Heritability: Darwin proposed that traits that provide a competitive advantage can be passed on to offspring through inheritance. If these advantageous traits are more common in a population over time, the population as a whole becomes better adapted to its environment.
6. Natural Selection: Darwin coined the term "natural selection" to describe the process by which certain variations or traits become more or less common in a population over time. Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on these traits, leading to gradual changes in a population's characteristics.
It is important to note that Darwin's theory of natural selection was not solely based on his observations but also on extensive research, including the study of fossils, the geographical distribution of species, and comparative anatomy.