Final answer:
Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection(A), which posits that advantageous traits become more common in a population over time due to differential survival and reproductive success, potentially leading to the emergence of new species.
Step-by-step explanation:
Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection(A)
Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection to explain the origin of new species. This theory suggests that individuals within a population exhibit variations, some of which are more favorable for survival and reproduction in the given environment. Those individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to the next generation. Over time, this leads to the traits becoming more common in the population, potentially resulting in the evolution of new species.
Darwin's theory was largely influenced by his understanding of artificial selection, where humans selectively breed organisms with desired traits. Applying this concept to nature, Darwin concluded that the environment naturally selects for traits that increase an organism's fitness, or its ability to survive and reproduce. Thus, through the process of natural selection, advantageous traits accumulate in a population, which can lead to the emergence of new species when these changes are substantial over time.
In summary, natural selection acts on the genetic variation within a population, favoring individuals with beneficial adaptations and ultimately leading to evolutionary change and the divergence of species. This mechanism is the central idea behind Darwin's theory of evolution and explains the diversity of life on Earth.