<P> Darwinism is a theory of biological evolution developed by the English naturalist Charles Darwin ( 1809 -- 1882 ) and others , stating that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small , inherited variations that increase the individual 's ability to compete , survive , and reproduce . Also called Darwinian theory , it originally included the broad concepts of transmutation of species or of evolution which gained general scientific acceptance after Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859 , including concepts which predated Darwin 's theories . It subsequently referred to the specific concepts of natural selection , the Weismann barrier , or the central dogma of molecular biology . Though the term usually refers strictly to biological evolution , creationists have appropriated it to refer to the origin of life , and it has even been applied to concepts of cosmic evolution , both of which have no connection to Darwin 's work . It is therefore considered the belief and acceptance of Darwin 's and of his predecessors ' work -- in place of other theories , including divine design and extraterrestrial origins . </P>
<P> Darwinism is a theory of biological evolution developed by the English naturalist Charles Darwin ( 1809 -- 1882 ) and others , stating that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small , inherited variations that increase the individual 's ability to compete , survive , and reproduce . Also called Darwinian theory , it originally included the broad concepts of transmutation of species or of evolution which gained general scientific acceptance after Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859 , including concepts which predated Darwin 's theories . It subsequently referred to the specific concepts of natural selection , the Weismann barrier , or the central dogma of molecular biology . Though the term usually refers strictly to biological evolution , creationists have appropriated it to refer to the origin of life , and it has even been applied to concepts of cosmic evolution , both of which have no connection to Darwin 's work . It is therefore considered the belief and acceptance of Darwin 's and of his predecessors ' work -- in place of other theories , including divine design and extraterrestrial origins . </P>
what is the main premise of darwinian evolution
what is the main premise of darwinian evolution
that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small , inherited variations that increase the individual 's ability to compete , survive , and reproduce
that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small , inherited variations that increase the individual 's ability to compete , survive , and reproduce