Charles Darwin's Theory Of Natural Selection

Charles Darwin is famous for his studies of mechanisms that bring about evolutionary change and for formulating the theory of natural selection which is defined by Scupin and DeCorse (2010) as ‘genetic change in a population resulting from differential reproductive success.’ The purpose of this essay is to discuss the importance of Darwin’s theory.

During Darwin’s time contemporaries responded to his theory because it brought new drastic changes to thoughts regarding evolution. He did not convince many of the other theorists of his time and only a handful of scientists first accepted what his theory stated. Only after the genetic work done by Mendel did people begin to accept the concept with the understanding of hereditary becoming known.

Physical environment causes the inhibition or promotion of growth of the people living in a particular area. People adapt to the needs that the territory they live in can fulfil. Culture forms variation through beliefs and practices one learns over many years and that have become norm in everyday life of different groups of people. Culture influences can be seen through diet, how homes are built, and attire and marriage practices. The adopting of any culture f the environment you are raised in can promote or inhibit development but mainly the differences caused are superficial ones. Scupin and DeCorse(

They had a small brain case with matching brain of between 390 and 500 cubic centimetres in size which is about one third of a human’s brain. They had long robust arms with curved fingers for the purpose of climbing trees. Their dental structures were like early humans consisting of small canine like teeth but were still larger than humans. They were shorter and lighter than humans .Males average in 151cm and females average 105 in height. For their weight males weigh around 42kgs and 29kgs for females. Their feet were short and they had feet more similar to humans than apes. D.O'Neil (2012)

South Africa has been particularly rich in finding fossils of this genus. At Taung, in the North West Province of South Africa the first fossil of this kind now called the Taung child was found. The first adult fossil of this hominid was found at Sterkfontein. Mrs Ples was the famous find of the species Australophethicus africanus.The Makapans Valley along with Sterkfontein have been great sources to find these