Darwin's Theory of Evolution (1859)

  • Variation is a characteristic of all natural groups of animals and plants (there is no type)
  • Every group of organisms overproduces offspring (Malthus)
  • Therefore, only those most fit will survive (natural selection)
  • Those that do survive can pass their superior characteristics to their offspring (heritability = genetics)
  • Three problems
    1. where does variability come from?
    2. how are an organisms characteristics passed to their young? (blending?)
    3. can environmentally caused changes in characteristics be inherited? (Lamarkism)

For more information about Darwin and evolution check out the following links

Bell CSU Chico Library
This document is copyright of Jeff Bell
Last Update: Wednesday, August 12, 1998