Charles Dawin's Theory of Descent with Modification
July 1837 - Darwin's first-known sketches
of descent with modification.
Charles Darwin first describes his concept of descent with modification with; "In considering the Origin of Species, it is quite conceivable that a naturalist, reflecting on the mutual affinities of organic beings, on their embryological relations, their geographical distribution, geological succession, and other such facts, might come to the conclusion that each species had not been independently created, but had descended, like varieties, from other species." He goes on throughout his book, "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life", to describe how the struggle for existence leads to the formation of different species. He explains this by demonstrating how slight differences between individuals allows one individual to be more successful over the other therefore being able to pass down its specific character traits to more offspring. Over time, Darwin states that this cycle will lead to the emergence of new species each one more genetically different than the one before it to everyone's common ancestor.
Darwin's theory of descent with modification helps explain the connections between all living organisms and their similarites to extinct their ancestors.
Darwin's theory of descent with modification helps explain the connections between all living organisms and their similarites to extinct their ancestors.
