Final answer:
Natural selection is a process by which beneficial traits become more common in a population over time, based on the differential survival and reproduction of individuals. It differs from the inheritance of acquired characteristics, a discredited theory that claimed traits acquired during an organism's life could be passed to offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory of natural selection posits that the inherited traits of a population change over time due to differences in the reproduction and survival of individuals with varying traits. This theory is rooted in three main principles:
- Variation in traits exists among individuals within a population, and these traits are inherited.
- Organisms produce more offspring than can survive, resulting in competition for resources.
- Offspring with inherited traits that provide a competitive advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce.
As a consequence, beneficial traits become more common in subsequent generations, leading to evolutionary changes - a process called descent with modification.
Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics vs. Natural Selection
The inheritance of acquired characteristics is a concept historically attributed to Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, which proposed that traits developed during an organism's life can be passed on to its offspring. This concept differs from natural selection, which focuses on the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to inherited traits, as opposed to traits acquired during one's lifetime.
Darwin and Wallace's Contributions
Both Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace independently observed and conceived the concept of natural selection. Their ideas were influenced by others, such as Thomas Malthus's principles on population dynamics and Charles Lyell's work on geological processes, which emphasized gradual change over time. Their work laid the foundation for the modern understanding of evolution.