On the Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection Or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for LifeOn the Origin of Species, published in 1859, is widely accepted as the seminal work in modern biology. Through careful observation, Charles Darwin explains how traits can be selected for within a population. This is easily observed in the artificial selection of farm animals, for instance. Darwin's theory caused an uproar that can still be heard today by refuting the Christian doctrine of created breeds, in which all species that exist now have always existed just as they are. It is the very publication of this work that gave Charles Darwin his place of prominence in the history of the theory of evolution, because while he was not the first to suggest such a mechanism, his book and its exhaustive studies made the information widely available. English scientist, naturalist, and geologist CHARLES DARWIN (1809-1882) revolutionized science, especially biology, with his theory of evolution through natural selection. As a passenger aboard the Beagle, Darwin became intrigued by the existence of different species in different geographical locations, which aided in the development of his theory. In addition to The Origin of Species, he is also remembered for The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex and The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. |
Contents
1 | |
29 | |
CHAPTER III | 39 |
NATURAL SELECTION | 51 |
CHAPTER V | 83 |
CHAPTER VI | 108 |
CHAPTER VII | 131 |
CHAPTER VIII | 155 |
CHAPTER IX | 176 |
CHAPTER X | 196 |
CHAPTER XI | 217 |
CHAPTER XII | 240 |
CHAPTER XIII | 258 |
CHAPTER XIV | 288 |
308 | |
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Common terms and phrases
accumulated adapted affinities allied species America amount ancient animals appear archipelago become bees believe birds breeds cause cells characters cirripedes climate closely allied colour common parent continuous crossed crustaceans degree difficulty distinct species disuse divergence domestic doubt embryo endemic Europe existing exterminated extinct extremely facts favourable fertility flowers formations forms fossil Gärtner genera genus geological geological period Glacial period greater number groups of species habits Hence hermaphrodites hybrids hybrids produced important individuals inhabitants inherited insects instance instincts intercrossing intermediate larvæ less living male mammals manner Marsupials migration modification modified descendants natural selection naturalists nearly nest occasional oceanic islands offspring organisation paleozoic perfect pigeons plants pollen present principle probably produced progenitor ranked reciprocal crosses remarked resemblance rock-pigeon seeds sexual selection Silurian slight South America sterility structure struggle successive supposed tend theory tion trees variability variation varieties vary whole widely
Popular passages
Page 2 - When on board HMS Beagle, as naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts in the distribution of the organic beings inhabiting South America, and in the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continent.