Final answer:
The claim that Charles Darwin was the only one to propose the theory of evolution is false. Darwin is renowned for his work on evolution by natural selection, building upon previous ideas and providing extensive evidence for this concept in his book 'On the Origin of Species.'
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Charles Darwin was the first and only individual to propose the theory of evolution is false. The concept of evolution had been discussed by various philosophers and naturalists prior to Darwin. However, Charles Darwin, along with Alfred Russel Wallace, is credited with formulating the well-known theory of evolution by natural selection, which he detailed in his seminal 1859 work, On the Origin of Species. Darwin's theory was a synthesis of many ideas, combined with his own observations and evidence from his voyages and studies, particularly his notable findings in the Galápagos Islands.
Darwin's theory of natural selection explains how species adapt to their environment over time. Individuals with traits that increase their chance of survival tend to pass those traits to their offspring, leading to the evolution of species. This theory was crucial in advancing our understanding of biology and is considered the unifying theory of the biological sciences.