Science Common Sense
1442 - How does Darwin's theory of evolution work
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution is like a big puzzle. It explains how animals and plants change over time to survive and create new species.
Here's how it works:
- Variation: All living things, like you and me, have tiny differences. Some people might have blue eyes, while others have brown eyes. This is variation.
- Competition: Animals and plants compete for food, water, and homes. It's like trying to get a seat at a popular lunch table.
- Survival: The ones with the right variations, like strong legs or sharp teeth, are more likely to survive and have babies.
- Heritage: When animals and plants have babies, they pass on their variations to them. So, if a bird has strong wings, its babies are more likely to have strong wings too.
- Evolution: Over time, these small changes add up. New species can emerge, like how wolves evolved into dogs.
Darwin used the example of finches on the Galapagos Islands to explain this theory. He noticed that finches with strong beaks could eat tough seeds, while the ones with small beaks couldn't. Over time, the finches with strong beaks were more likely to survive and have babies, creating a new species.
That's the basic idea of Darwin's theory of evolution!