Charles Darwin once said “I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term of Natural Selection”. This quote uses the word natural selection. Many people wonder what is natural selection or where does it come from. People also may ask who Charles Darwin is. Today in this essay I will inform you about these things you wish to know. Charles Darwin was heavily influenced by scientist in the development of his theory. In addition there were other scientists who came up with their own theories of evolution. James Hutton was a geologist. James Hutton came up with the theory that Earth is shaped by geological forces that took place over long periods of times. James’ theory added that Earth had to be many millions of years old. Thomas Malthus, an economist who stated that if people were able to continue babies unchecked, they would run out housing space and food. Thomas believed that the only thing keeping the populations in check were wars, famine, and disease some die and some live. Charles Darwin was ready to publish his theory until he received an essay from Alfred Wallace which included many of the same ideas included many of the same ideas that Darwin had discovered. Darwin’s theory evolution change comes through the produce of variation in each generation and differential survival of individuals with different combinations of these variable characters. Individuals with characteristics which increase their probability of survival will have more opportunities to reproduce and their offspring. Darwin reasoned that some competitors in the struggle for existence would be better equipped for survival than others. Those less equipped
would die. Darwin noticed the brutality of nature. Therefore, the connection was made and natural selection could be summed by called ‘”Survival of the Fittest.” Fittest does not the boldest or the biggest but the most adapted. In addition to recombination of genetic material during meiosis, Darwin realized that mutations also provide variation within the gene pool of species. On November 24, 1859
