Name the scientist who gave the ‘Theory of Natural Selection’. State and explain the theory briefly.
The theory of evolution by natural selection, first formulated in Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species” in 1859, is the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioural traits. Changes that allow an organism to better adapt to its environment will help it survive and have more offspring. The four steps in the process can be summarised as: Large numbers: The parent produces more offspring than that can survive Competition: There is a limited amount of resources, so competition occurs among the offsprings and also with the other members of the population. Survival of the fittest: Only the members who have favourable variations survive the competition. Natural selection: The surviving members reproduce and pass on the variations to their progeny.
