Charles Darwin developed the theory of natural selection after making observations on his voyage on the Beagle and gathering evidence that species adapt to their environments over generations. Through natural selection, individuals with traits better suited to the environment are more likely to survive and pass on those traits, causing populations to evolve over time. Darwin's observations of related but different species on the Galapagos Islands provided evidence that all life shares a common ancestor that diverges through this process of descent with modification.
10. Darwin as a Child Naughty Clumsy Athletic Gullible Lazy Slow learner Shy
11. Darwin’s Love for Natural Science Was taught the classics, ancient history, and Greek at Revd. Samuel Butler's school and found it to be extremely boring He developed his interest for natural science in activities outside of school Hiking Book Reading Chemistry
12. Darwin and Medicine Darwin was admitted to Edinburgh University, in Scotland Many members of his family including his dad were in the medical field Assisted at his dad’s medical practice Again he found most of his school studies a bore Scared of blood
13. A Further Interest in Science Darwin participated in many things outside of school that sparked his interest in natural science Stuffing Animals Natural History Book Natural History Museum Plinian Society Robert Grant
14. At Cambridge University To enter the popular profession of clergy, Darwin attended Cambridge University, at Christ's College. Was again uninterested in his studies and spent time playing cards with friends, partying and shooting birds. During this time various things added to his interest in natural science Insect Collecting Prof. Revd. John Henslow Two Great Books Professor Adam Sedgwick
15. Religion vs. Science Was a religious orthodox that received proper religious schooling On the Beagle Voyage he witnessed slavery and the wretched state the natives of Tierra del Fuego lived in Darwin began to research the origin of species and saw that the species adapted to their environment of time While coming up with the laws of natural selection, Darwin became less religious In contrast with the churches views believed that God initiated the process but did not create each species already fit for their environment
16. The Theory of Natural Selection Darwin’s several observations on nature: variation, heritance, competition, adaptation. Natural Selection is a very simple concept! Individuals with favored traits -> higher chance of reproduction -> more offspring with the traits Thus, the certain traits will become popular in the population over generations. Background Inference
17. The Theory of Natural Selection Survival of the fittest