What makes evolution

All rights reserved. Your book opens with Charles Darwin making a little sketch in a notebook. Put us inside that moment and explain how the image of the tree of life has altered over the centuries. The British research lab at Porton Down has been much in the news recently because of the Skripal affair. Take us inside this top-secret facility and talk about the strange case of NCTC 1.

Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city Caracals have learned to hunt around the urban edges of Cape Town, though the predator faces many threats, such as getting hit by cars. India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big Grassroots efforts are bringing solar panels to rural villages without electricity, while massive solar arrays are being built across the country.

Go Further. Animals Climate change is shrinking many Amazonian birds. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth.

Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Morocco has 3 million stray dogs. Meet the people trying to help. Environment COP26 nears conclusion with mixed signals and frustration. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big.

Environment As the EU targets emissions cuts, this country has a coal problem. Paid Content How Hong Kong protects its sea sanctuaries. History Magazine These 3,year-old giants watched over the cemeteries of Sardinia. Science Coronavirus Coverage What families can do now that kids are getting the vaccine.

Magazine How one image captures 21 hours of a volcanic eruption. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Ohno, S. Evolution by Gene Duplication Springer, Google Scholar.

Begun, D. Genetics , — PubMed Article Google Scholar. Carvunis, A. Nature , — Knopp, M. Neme, R. Nature Eco. Zhang, L. Nature Ecol. Toll-Riera, M. Wu, D. PLoS Genet. Casola, C. Genome Biol. PubMed Google Scholar. Li, C. PLoS Comput. Wang, D. Pharmacogenomics J. Suenaga, Y. Willemsen, A. Download references.

Article 10 NOV News 05 NOV Article 03 NOV Francis Crick Institute. Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily. Advanced search.

Image Young Charles Darwin Charles Darwin is more famous than his contemporary Alfred Russel Wallace who also developed the theory of evolution by natural selection. Photograph by James L. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom.

Encyclopedic Entry Vocabulary. Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. Media If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer.

Text Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Interactives Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Related Resources. View Collection. Alfred Wallace. View Article. Evolution: Changing Species Over Time. View Idea.

Educational Resources in Your Inbox. Open survey. In: Facts Society and Behaviour. The theory of evolution is based on the idea that all species are related and gradually change over time.

Evolution relies on there being genetic variation in a population which affects the physical characteristics phenotype of an organism. Some of these characteristics may give the individual an advantage over other individuals which they can then pass on to their offspring. What is natural selection? Individuals in a species show variation in physical characteristics.

This variation is because of differences in their genes. Individuals with characteristics best suited to their environment are more likely to survive, finding food, avoiding predators and resisting disease.

These individuals are more likely to reproduce and pass their genes on to their children. Individuals that are poorly adapted to their environment are less likely to survive and reproduce.

Therefore their genes are less likely to be passed on to the next generation.