Who is the author of "The Origin of Species," which presents the theory of natural selection? A) Charles Darwin B) Alfred Russel Wallace C) Gregor Mendel D) Louis Pasteur
VerifiedAnswer: A) Charles Darwin
Explanation:
Charles Darwin is indeed the author of "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life," commonly known as "The Origin of Species." This groundbreaking book was published on November 24, 1859, and it introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over generations through natural selection.
Darwin spent over 20 years developing his theory after his voyage on HMS Beagle (1831-1836), where he made crucial observations about species variation, particularly in the Galápagos Islands. The book presented compelling evidence from his research in geology, paleontology, biogeography, and embryology to support his revolutionary ideas about how species change over time.
Let's quickly understand why the other options are incorrect:
• Alfred Russel Wallace (Option B): While Wallace independently conceived the theory of evolution through natural selection and co-presented it with Darwin to the Linnean Society in 1858, he did not write "The Origin of Species." Wallace's work actually prompted Darwin to finally publish his long-delayed book.
• Gregor Mendel (Option C): Known as the "Father of Genetics," Mendel conducted his famous pea plant experiments that established the fundamental laws of inheritance. However, his work was published in the 1860s and was largely unknown during Darwin's time.
• Louis Pasteur (Option D): A French microbiologist famous for developing pasteurization, vaccines, and disproving spontaneous generation. His contributions were primarily in microbiology and medicine, not evolutionary theory.
Darwin's "Origin of Species" fundamentally changed our understanding of life on Earth and remains one of the most influential scientific works ever written. The book sold out on its first day of publication, indicating the immediate impact it had on both scientific and public discourse.
