Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
EVOLUTION BY
NATURAL SELECTION
Darwin’s observations and deductions. The
development of the theory.
What is Evolution?
Evolution is CHANGE OVER TIME.
But wait!
This phrase was not used by Darwin. It is much more recent
and is often misinterpreted. It does NOT mean that the
biggest, fastest and strongest survive. It means that the genes
which determine the favourable characteristics become more
common in future generations of the species.
Correcting mistakes
and misconceptions
1. Darwin did NOT talk about individuals; he talked about
populations of species and how genes become more or
less common in a population. (A population is a group of
organisms of one species, living together in one place.)
2. Natural selection in no way suggests that adaptations can
develop and be inherited. No! What it does say is that
individuals with already favourable characteristics and
genes are likely to survive and pass on their genes.
3. “Survival of the Fittest” does NOT mean that the stronger
individuals survive. It means that genes which are best fit
for survival will be inherited by offspring.