1. Theory of Natural Selection
Charles Darwin was born into a rich family - his father was a physician. At his father’s urgings, Darwin studied medicine, but gave it up. He then pursued theology to become a minister in the Church of England and gave that up as well for his real love which was nature - studying animals.
Charles Darwin ( )

2. Theory of Natural Selection
Charles Darwin was born into a rich family - his father was a physician. At his father’s urgings, Darwin studied medicine, but gave it up. He then pursued theology to become a minister in the Church of England and gave that up as well for his real love which was nature - studying animals.
Charles Darwin was born into a rich family - his father was a physician. At his father’s urgings, Darwin studied medicine, but gave it up. He then pursued theology to become a minister in the Church of England and gave that up as well for his real love which was nature - studying animals.

3. HMS Beagle
When he was 22 years old, Darwin applied to be the naturalist aboard a ship, HMS Beagle, that was setting out from England to go chart the coastline around South America. The expedition was to last 2 years, but ended up lasting 5. During that time, Darwin collected many specimens and made detailed observations about the species he encountered.
When he was 22 years old, Darwin applied to be the naturalist aboard a ship, HMS Beagle, that was setting out from England to go chart the coastline around South America. The expedition was to last 2 years, but ended up lasting 5. During that time, Darwin collected many specimens and made detailed observations about the species he encountered.

4. The 5-Year Journey
Darwin’s Journey

5. Galapagos Islands
The most significant of Darwin’s observations were those he made on the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. He found species here that were similar to ones on the mainland, but they were slightly different in certain characteristics.
The most significant of Darwin’s observations were those he made on the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. He found species here that were similar to ones on the mainland, but they were slightly different in certain characteristics.

6. Darwin’s Finches

7. Galapagos Island Fauna
Blue-footed Booby
Marine Iguana

8. Theory of Natural Selection
Consists of 5 main ideas:
1. Variation that is inheritable.
2. Overproduction
3. Struggle for existence
4. Survival of the fittest
5. Origin of new species by inheritance of successful variations

9. Natural Selection, cont’d
1) Variation
Individuals within a species are not identical; they have variations.
These variations may affect the individual’s ability to get food, escape predators, find a mate, etc.
These variations can be passed on to offspring

10. Natural Selection, cont’d
2) Overproduction
Most species produce far more offspring than are needed to maintain the population.

11. Natural Selection, cont’d
3) Struggle for existence
Living space and food is limited and so individuals within a species must compete with each other in order to live long enough to reproduce.

12. Natural Selection, cont’d
4) Survival of the fittest
The individuals with traits that give them an advantage are better able to compete, survive, and reproduce, thus passing their “successful” genes onto their offspring.
Nature “selects” the creatures that are best adapted to their environment.

13. Natural Selection, cont’d
5) Origin of new species
Over many generations, favorable adaptations gradually accumulate in the species and unfavorable ones disappear.
Eventually the changes become so great that the end result is a new species.