Evolution

Darwinism is a theory of biological evolution developed by the English naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882) and others, stating that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual's ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.

Beginning in 1837, Darwin proceeded to work on the concept that evolution is essentially brought about by the interplay of three principles: (1) variation—a liberalizing factor, which Darwin did not attempt to explain, present in all forms of life; (2) heredity—the conservative force that transmits similar organic form from one generation to another; and (3) the struggle for existence—which determines the variations that will confer advantages in a given environment, thus altering species through a selective reproductive rate.