LIFE SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Darwin and a scientific contemporary of his, Alfred Russel Wallace, proposed that evolution occurs because of a phenomenon called natural selection. In the theory of natural selection, organisms produce more offspring than are able to survive in their environment.

Detailed explanation-2: -Darwin’s concept of natural selection was based on several key observations: Traits are often heritable. In living organisms, many characteristics are inherited, or passed from parent to offspring. (Darwin knew this was the case, even though he did not know that traits were inherited via genes.)

Detailed explanation-3: -Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection states that species evolved over the course of millions of years due to natural selection. Natural selection states that certain species have adaptations due to genetic mutations, and these adaptations make them better suited to live in a particular environment.

Detailed explanation-4: -Darwin argued that, as a consequence of natural selection preferentially retaining those heritable variations associated with greater survival and reproductive success, organisms will appear as if they are designed to maximize their survival and reproductive success-that is, their Darwinian fitness.

Detailed explanation-5: -So, the correct option is ‘Evolutiom through inheritance’.