Charles Darwin And Charles Lyell's Theory Of Natural Selection

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Evolution is the process of change over time. It can be split in two questions, how did something living come from something that was not alive? And, how did things that were already living turn into other living things? Natural selection is when the “breeder: is the environment. This belief of natural selection came from Charles Darwin. Many ideas led him to believe what he believed. One of them was, James Hutton’s ideas about geological change. His theory consisted that sediments, rocks, soil, etc were made after the great flood and new species “rose” from that disaster and that it’s a cycle. Charles Lyell’s theory also shaped his thinking. Lyell wrote the book of “Principles of Geology”, where Hutton became famous. He believed that the earth …show more content…

Thinking further and associated his observations with all these theories, which made more sense. Darwin observed that there were thirteen types of finches and the only differences between them were their beaks and that they each were suitable for the type of food they ate. Also observed, traits from parents can be passed to their offspring. The organisms had more offspring that their environment could “handle”. He noticed that resources were running out and that caused competition between groups. Only the offspring with certain traits that were suitable with the environment survived. This led him to believe that species evolve from a common ancestor because he saw that many organisms had similar traits and that they eventually accommodate to their surrounding …show more content…

Directional selection means that natural selection is in favor of one extreme or another. An example of directional selection is that there is a green and red types of beetles. The predator in the area only likes green ones, this is a disadvantage for the green beetles. Another example, there are white rats and black rats. The predator, which is an eagle, the rats hide in mud; The eagle is able to see the white rats and eats them, that is an advantage to brown rats. Disruptive selection means that natural selection is in favor of the average general individual in a group of organisms. An example of disruptive selection can be where there are white and black rabbits. Their offspring are grey, in the area where they live there are white and black rocks which they use to hide from their predators, this only benefits white and black rabbits. However, grey rabbits will have a greater chance to get eaten. Another example can be that in a community of giraffes there is a tall tree where their food supply is. Long and medium neck giraffes will be able to get the food, but small neck giraffes are not going to be able to eat. Stabilizing selection means when genetic variation decreases as the population “equalizes” on a particular characteristic. An example for this selection is that there is a community of squirrels, they have to pass into trees and branches to get food. Big