Charles Darwin developed the theory of natural selection after making observations on his voyage on the Beagle and gathering evidence that species adapt to their environments over generations. Through natural selection, individuals with traits better suited to the environment are more likely to survive and pass on those traits, causing populations to evolve over time. Darwin's observations of related but different species on the Galapagos Islands provided evidence that all life shares a common ancestor that diverges through this process of descent with modification.

1. Charles Darwin & natural selectionJi Won, Natasha, Amna

2. Key Terms Mutation: creation of altered DNA

3. Gene flow: gene movement from one population to another

4. Genetic variation is affected by gene flow and it allows natural selection to occur

5. Charles Darwin

6. Natural selection

7. Survival of the fittest

8. Family Tree

9. “Descent with modification”Father of Evolutionary BiologyCharles Darwin

10. Darwin as a ChildNaughtyClumsyAthleticGullibleLazy Slow learnerShy

11. Darwin’s Love for Natural ScienceWas taught the classics, ancient history, and Greek at Revd. Samuel Butler's school and found it to be extremely boringHe developed his interest for natural science in activities outside of schoolHikingBook ReadingChemistry

12. Darwin and MedicineDarwin was admitted to Edinburgh University, in ScotlandMany members of his family including his dad were in the medical fieldAssisted at his dad’s medical practiceAgain he found most of his school studies a boreScared of blood

13. A Further Interest in ScienceDarwin participated in many things outside of school that sparked his interest in natural scienceStuffing AnimalsNatural History BookNatural History MuseumPlinian SocietyRobert Grant

14. At Cambridge UniversityTo enter the popular profession of clergy, Darwin attended Cambridge University, at Christ's College. Was again uninterested in his studies and spent time playing cards with friends, partying and shooting birds.During this time various things added to his interest in natural scienceInsect CollectingProf. Revd. John HenslowTwo Great BooksProfessor Adam Sedgwick

15. Religion vs. ScienceWas a religious orthodox that received proper religious schoolingOn the Beagle Voyage he witnessed slavery and the wretched state the natives of Tierra del Fuego lived inDarwin began to research the origin of species and saw that the species adapted to their environment of timeWhile coming up with the laws of natural selection, Darwin became less religiousIn contrast with the churches views believed that God initiated the process but did not create each species already fit for their environment

16. The Theory of Natural SelectionDarwin’s several observations on nature: variation, heritance, competition, adaptation.Natural Selection is a very simple concept!Individuals with favored traits -> higher chance of reproduction -> more offspring with the traits Thus, the certain traits will become popular in the population over generations. BackgroundInference

17. The Theory of Natural SelectionSurvival of the fittest

18. Family Tree Evolution Darwin’s another observation on bird species in Galápagos Islands in 1835

19. Common ancestor from the mainland of South America

20. “Descent with modification”Keys in Natural SelectionNatural Selection is… The evolution of the population, not the evolution of the individuals

21. Dealing with heritable traits, not acquired characteristics

22. Based on the environment; being favored in one place does not mean it is also favored in a different place Cain, M. L., Campbell, N. A., Reece, J. B., Urry, L. A., & Wasserman, S. A. (2007). BIOLOGY: A P* Edition (8 Har/Cdr ed.). San Francisco: Pearson. Genetic variation. (n.d.). Understanding Evolution. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibraryEvolution 101: Gene Flow. (n.d.). Understanding Evolution. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evositeLeff, D. (2000, February 12). Who was Darwin. AboutDarwin.com. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.aboutdarwin.com/darwin/WhoWas.htmlReferences