Darwin reasoned that the variety of finch species found on the Galápagos Islands descended from a common ancestor. He used the phrase "descent with " to describe gradual genetic changes from the ancestral type.
Question
Darwin reasoned that the variety of finch species found on the Galápagos Islands descended from a common ancestor. He used the phrase "descent with " to describe gradual genetic changes from the ancestral type.
Solution
Darwin reasoned that the variety of finch species found on the Galápagos Islands descended from a common ancestor. He used the phrase "descent with modification" to describe gradual genetic changes from the ancestral type.
Step 1: Darwin observed the variety of finch species on the Galápagos Islands.
Step 2: He noted that despite their differences, all these species shared common characteristics, suggesting a common ancestor.
Step 3: Darwin proposed that these species had gradually diverged from the ancestral type over generations.
Step 4: He described this process as "descent with modification," meaning that the species had descended from a common ancestor, but with genetic changes that had accumulated over time.
Step 5: These changes, according to Darwin, were driven by natural selection - the process by which traits that enhance survival and reproduction become more common in successive generations.
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