Question

How does Darwin's theory of Natural Selection explain new forms of life on earth?

Answer 1

1. Variation: Individuals in a population naturally differ from one another. Some variations are favourable in a particular environment.
2. Overproduction and competition: Organisms produce many offspring, but food, space and other resources are limited. This leads to a struggle for existence.
3. Natural selection: Individuals with favourable variations are more likely to survive and reproduce, while less well-adapted individuals are less likely to do so. This is called survival of the fittest.
4. Inheritance: Favourable variations are passed on to offspring. Over many generations, these traits become more common in the population.
5. Formation of new species: As favourable variations accumulate over a long period, populations may become sufficiently different to form new species. Thus, natural selection acting on inherited variations explains how new forms of life arise from earlier forms.