Question

Describe Darwin’s theory of organic evolution. Add a note on Neo-Darwinism.

Answer 1

The process of change in the characters of an individual over a certain time period resulting in the formation of a new individual having certain new characters.

Complete answer:
Darwin’s theory of evolution is with reference to natural selection, which states that the changes in the heritable and physical traits of an individual or species occur due to the change in the characters over time. It was proposed in 1859, in his book ‘Origin of Species ‘.
There are various important facts about the theory of evolution which includes, the traits (characters) are passed from the parents to the offspring and no two individuals will have the same traits, the production of more offspring for survival and only those species will survive and reproduce which will compete well with other on the basis of food and shelter.
This theory did not explain well the occurrence of changes in individuals. The random mutation which is gross unidirectional will not lead to anywhere it will in fact harm the species. According to this theory, the individual will survive only in the presence of adequate food, environmental conditions, and habits.
Neo-Darwinism is used in comparing and integrating the studies of the theory of evolution with respect to the natural selection of Darwin and the theory and principles of genetics by Mendel. Neo-Darwinism is the concept that involves the theory of both natural selection and genetics. This theory is the modern synthesis of evolutionary biology.

Note: An English philosopher Herbert Spencer in 1852, first time used the term theory of evolution. It was later explained by the father of evolution who was a naturalist, geologist, and a biologist. He was Charles Darwin and was born in 1809. He has proposed several theories to contribute to the science of evolution.