What did Darwin call his theory of evolution?
Charles Darwin came up with a new idea to explain how animals and plants change over time. He called it natural selection.
What is natural selection?
Natural selection means that:
- There are differences between individuals in a species (some are faster, stronger, or better hidden).
- More offspring are born than can survive, so they have to compete for food and space.
- The ones with helpful traits are more likely to survive and have babies.
- These traits are passed on to the next generation.
Example:
If birds can easily see green beetles but not brown ones, brown beetles survive more often. Over time, more beetles in the group will be brown.
When did Darwin share his theory?
Darwin published his theory in 1859 in a book called On the Origin of Species. It changed how people understood life on Earth.