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Natural selection is the differential reproductive success of genomic variation. But for differing variants to be able to compete reproductively, such variants must exist in the first place. Reproduction causes such variants to come into existence.

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Q: What did Darwin mean when he said that natural selection works on existing variation?
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What are the four steps of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection and examples?

Overproduction, variation, selection, and adaptation


Why was variation the weakest concept in Darwin's theory?

Variation?!?! That was an obvious observation of naturalists that opposed Darwin's concepts totally. Unless you mean the heritability that leads to variation? Explaining that variation was the problem. Creationists of the time explained this by positing god's whimsy in designing his species, but this was shown to be nonsense as natural processes are at work in variation and this can be shown experimentally. The concept of natural selection explained how that natural variation was selected on beneficial traits. What Darwin did not understand is how that variation was passed on to progeny. His explanation was wrong.


How do you describe Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection?

The natural production of variation within an animal species and the survival (and by implication breeding) of the fittest variants.


What was Charles Darwin's theory on the driving force of evolution called?

Darwin claimed it was the process of natural selection that drove evolution. However this is incomplete, without both a process that creates variation and the process of natural selection evolution could not work. There are many processes that create variation (e.g. mutation, crossover, transformation, infection, conjugation, polyploidy).


What two key insights allowed Darwin to come up with the theory of natural selection?

Natural selection and Mutation

Related questions

What are the four parts of Darwin's theory of natural selection?

Overproduction, genetic variation, selection, and adaption


What are the four steps of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection and examples?

Overproduction, variation, selection, and adaptation


Why did artificial selection interest Darwin?

He noticed a lot of variation in domesticated plants and animals. Darwin saw artificial selection as a means of understanding natural selection.


Why was variation the weakest concept in Darwin's theory?

Variation?!?! That was an obvious observation of naturalists that opposed Darwin's concepts totally. Unless you mean the heritability that leads to variation? Explaining that variation was the problem. Creationists of the time explained this by positing god's whimsy in designing his species, but this was shown to be nonsense as natural processes are at work in variation and this can be shown experimentally. The concept of natural selection explained how that natural variation was selected on beneficial traits. What Darwin did not understand is how that variation was passed on to progeny. His explanation was wrong.


How do you describe Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection?

The natural production of variation within an animal species and the survival (and by implication breeding) of the fittest variants.


What is variation under domestication of Darwin?

Artificial selection.


How is natural variations used in artificial selection?

Natural variation in artificial selection is used because humans choose from among the naturally occurring variation s in species. Natural selection is related to species fitness because Darwin called natural selection survival of the fittest because those that could survive would carry their species on there for being the naturally selected.


How is natural selection used in artificial selection?

Natural variation in artificial selection is used because humans choose from among the naturally occurring variation s in species. Natural selection is related to species fitness because Darwin called natural selection survival of the fittest because those that could survive would carry their species on there for being the naturally selected.


What was Darwin's overall conclusion regarding natural selection?

That selection was natural.


What was Charles Darwin's theory on the driving force of evolution called?

Darwin claimed it was the process of natural selection that drove evolution. However this is incomplete, without both a process that creates variation and the process of natural selection evolution could not work. There are many processes that create variation (e.g. mutation, crossover, transformation, infection, conjugation, polyploidy).


What is Darwin's book about?

Natural selection


What selection is Darwin associated with?

natural