Evolution through natural selection

In this free course, Evolution through natural selection, we describe the theory of evolution by natural selection as proposed by Charles Darwin in his book, first published in 1859, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. We will look at natural selection as Darwin did, taking inheritance for granted, but ignoring the mechanisms underlying it.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 Charles Darwin
• 1 Charles Darwin
• 2 Darwin and natural selection
• 2 Darwin and natural selection
• 3 Natural selection in the guppy
• 3 Natural selection in the guppy
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Number of progeny
• 3.3 The struggle for existence
• 3.4 Variation
• 3.5 Inheritance
• 4 Other influences on evolution
• 4 Other influences on evolution
• 10.4 Summary
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgements