Written by: Noelle A. Koo (12th grade / Ashburn, VA USA)
Natural selection is the process by which the organisms that have characteristics that are better suited for the adaptations to the environment that they inhabit tend to have higher survival rates and produce greater numbers of offspring. The theory of evolution by natural selection was brought forth by Charles Darwin through his published book “On the Origin of Species” in 1859. The theory of evolution by natural selection brought forth new ideals and claims, the most prominent one being that: organisms gradually change over time in favor of their own survival rate to become more adaptable to the environment they inhabit, due to changes in heritable traits (both physical and behavioral) that are passed on. Although faced with much controversy in the initial stages of its introduction to the scientific world, this theory has been backed up and supported by many scientists and researchers as time passed and evidence from studies regarding fossils, genetics, developmental biology, and more were found to substantiate the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Evidence supporting the theory was found through various research studies in which researchers studied the different aspects of characteristics in organisms to determine what kind of role natural selection played and to observe evolutionary patterns and changes that may have occurred over time. This led to the formulation of specific research studies regarding specific human characteristics, like head circumference, to be analyzed and studied from an evolutionary perspective which brought forth two questions that many research studies revolved around: what factors impact human characteristics and their changes throughout evolution, and how do these factors weigh into the natural selection aspect of human survival?
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