The Theory of Evolution

The scientific theory of evolution by natural selection was conceived independently by two British naturalists, Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, in the mid-19th century. Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species detailed the mechanism of natural selection as an explanation for why organisms are adapted to their environments.

Charles Darwin and Evolution

Darwin first used the word evolution in The Descent of Man in 1871, before adding it to the 6th edition of The Origin of Species. He argued that all life shares a common ancestor, and species change through evolution.

Common Descent and Evolution

All present-day organisms are assumed to have originated from a last universal ancestor through the process of evolution. Darwin’s theory of descent with modification explains how all life is connected through common ancestry.

Human Evolution

Charles Darwin’s work on The Origin of Species paved the way for understanding human evolution and the connection between humans and other primates. The idea of new species evolving from earlier ones became clear after Darwin’s publication.

Evolutionary Developmental Biology

The modern synthesis of the early 20th century combined Darwin’s theory of evolution with Gregor Mendel’s laws of genetics. Organisms evolve through mutations in genes, leading to the development of new species.