Question

Darwin could not explain completely the mechanisms of evolution, because he was ignorant of the mechanisms of ______.

Answer 1

Darwin could not explain completely the mechanisms of evolution, because he was ignorant of the mechanisms of inheritance.

Explanation:

Darwin’s theory of natural selection explained how species evolve through survival and reproduction of the fittest individuals, but he did not know how new hereditary variations arise or how traits are inherited through generations. Without understanding genetics and mutations, Darwin could not fully explain the source of the variations upon which natural selection acts. This gap was later filled by the discovery of genetic mechanisms and the mutation theory, leading to the modern synthesis of evolution known as neo-Darwinism.