Modern genetics has made it clear that there are constant small random changes in the genetic make-up of a species.
Natural selection showed that in a species population with small differences between individuals, some of those differences would give survival advantages, and others would give survival disadvantages.
The members of the population with survival advantages would tend to out-breed the less advantaged members, leading to a shift towards that advantage being the norm for the population.
Recent work on biogeography has showed how in a single species population, different habitats will interact differently with the different members of the same population, leading to regional differences in the populations, and ultimately to the formation of a new species.
Evolution by natural selection is called a theory because it is a well-supported and widely accepted explanation for how species change over time. In scientific terms, a theory is a comprehensive explanation that is supported by a large body of evidence from multiple fields of study. Despite being called a theory, the evidence for evolution by natural selection is overwhelmingly strong.
It does not mater what anyone thinks about the theory of evolution by natural selection. The theory of evolution by natural selection is the best explanation we have for much of the observed and observable fact of evolution. The theory is internally consistent with the fact of evolution, it is supported by myriad lines of converging evidence and it generates testable predictions in the form of scientific hypothesis. The opinion of no one is needed by the theory of evolution by natural selection and educated people have come to accept the theory.
No, Darwin did not have knowledge of DNA when he proposed his theory of evolution. DNA was not discovered until after Darwin's time, in the 20th century. Darwin's theory of evolution was based on observations of natural selection and the variation and adaptation of species over time.
Evolution by natural selection.
Charles Darwin did not coin the concept of evolution, but he is famously known for developing the theory of evolution by natural selection. Evolution as a concept had been discussed by earlier scientists and philosophers before Darwin. Darwin's contribution was to provide a comprehensive explanation for how evolution occurs through the mechanism of natural selection.
Charles Robert Darwin, though evolution was already known. Darwin came up with an explanation for evolution. Called the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Because it does! Natural selection is the best explanation of adaptive change that we have and drives much of evolution. talkorigins.orgPS: Evolutionists is an ideological, not a scientific term
That the theory of evolution by natural selection fits the facts of evolution. The theory of evolution by natural selection is based on myriad lives of converging evidence and is the best explanation we have for the adaptive changes leading to speciation in populations of organisms.
A simplified explanation. Natural selection is the nonrandom survival and reproductive success of randomly varying organisms who by this reproductive success change the allele frequency over time in populations of organisms, which is evolution.
Because it was Darwin who made it a scientifically plausible explanation, by providing a mechanism by which evolution could occur....Natural Selection.
Darwin's explanation for the fact of evolution was better than Lamarck's explanation and fit the fact of evolution. Natural selection solved much of the species problem, but acquired characteristics did not have the empirical support and explained nothing in the end.
Evolution by natural selection is called a theory because it is a well-supported and widely accepted explanation for how species change over time. In scientific terms, a theory is a comprehensive explanation that is supported by a large body of evidence from multiple fields of study. Despite being called a theory, the evidence for evolution by natural selection is overwhelmingly strong.
Nice? The theory of evolution by natural selection is the best and best supported explanation for the fact of evolution we have, but it just is and a word such as " nice " would not always fit theory. Google Ichneumon wasp to see that natural selection is not always " nice. "
What is the mechanism that causes evolution. Both knew evolution occurred and occurs but did not know how or why. Lamark's " desire to evolve " and " acquired characteristics " failed to explain evolution. Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection was the better explanation.
It does not mater what anyone thinks about the theory of evolution by natural selection. The theory of evolution by natural selection is the best explanation we have for much of the observed and observable fact of evolution. The theory is internally consistent with the fact of evolution, it is supported by myriad lines of converging evidence and it generates testable predictions in the form of scientific hypothesis. The opinion of no one is needed by the theory of evolution by natural selection and educated people have come to accept the theory.
" Evolutionists? " Believe in? " Two words/phrases that are ideological in nature and have no place in a scientific discussion. Evolutionary scientists accept the overwhelming and convergent evidence for the theory of evolution by natural selection. This is the best explanation we have for the adaptive changes seen in evolution.
No, Darwin did not have knowledge of DNA when he proposed his theory of evolution. DNA was not discovered until after Darwin's time, in the 20th century. Darwin's theory of evolution was based on observations of natural selection and the variation and adaptation of species over time.