Question

Describe Darwin’s theory briefly.

Answer 1

Darwin’s theory:

1. Charles Darwin proposed the Darwin theory or Darwinism.
2. He explained how organisms change and evolve over a period of time due to the transfer of useful heritable traits. Thus organisms can be traced back to their common ancestors.
3. Evolution occurs based on natural selection. Heritable traits help in the adaptation and survival of the organism to its changing environment.
4. The traits inherited exhibit variations, which can be useful, harmful, or neutral.
5. Natural selection is dependent on existing variations, environmental factors, and mutations.
6. The most common example is the greater survival rate of the dark colored moths after the industrial revolution.
7. The phenomenon called industrial melanism resulted in the darkening of the surfaces. This helped the dark moths to survive better by camouflaging and escaping predation by the birds.
8. On the other hand, the light colored moths were easily noticed by predators on the dark surface and gradually their population declined.