Summarization and Evaluation of Charles Darwin’s “Natural Selection”
...liarities our domestic productions that vary; and with strong hereditary tendency, this whole organization would in some way become plastic (Natural Selection, 438). Darwin explains that Natural Selection is a preservation of favorable variations and the rejection of injurious variations (Natural Selection, 438). Darwin also says variations that are not useful or harmful would not be affected by natural selection, and would be left a changeable element, like butterflies, a species which have more than one form over the course of their lives (Natural Selection, 438). Darwin gives several illustrations and examples in try to make a strong case for Natural Selection. One of examples Darwin uses is the wolf, and says that the wolf is an animal that feeds on a variety of animals, and acquires either by skill, by strength, or by quickness (Natural Selection, 445). Darwin then explains what if the quickest prey, a deer for instance, had from any change in the country increased in numbers, or that other prey had decreased in numbers, during that season of the year when the wolf is hardest pressed for food. Then only the fastest and slimmest wolves would have the best chance of surviving, and so be preserved, provided that they always maintain their strength to master their prey at this or another time of the year, when they might be forced to prey on other animals (Natural Selection, 445). Another example is a certain plants that excrete a sweet juice. Insects greedily seek this juice, but the amount is so little (Natural Selection, 446-447). Darwin supposes what if little sweet juice was to be excreted by the inner bases of the petals of a flower. Then insects seeking this nectar would get dusted with pollen, and would certainly transport the pollen from one flower to the stigma of another flower (Natural Selection, 446-447). Also the flowers of two distinct individuals of the same species would get crossed, and we would have produce very vigorous seedlings, which consequently would have the best chance of flourishing and surviving (Natural Selection, 446-447). Some of these seedlings would probably inherit the nectar-excreting power, and the individual flowers, which had the largest glands or nectaries, and which excreted most nectar, would be oftenest visited by insects, and would be oftenest crossed; and so in the long-run would gain the upper hand (Natural Selection, 446-447). Darwin’s method of presenting his argument is slightly problematic. According to Natural History cover story “The games species play”, it says that scientists use to have a clear understanding of the evolution of life (Article, The games species ...