Q187 / 200 · NEET 2003 · Zoology
Darwin in his "Natural Selection Theory" did not believe in any role of which one of the following in organic evolution ?
- Aparasites and predators as natural enemies
- Bsurvival of the fittest
- Cstruggle for existence
- Correct answerDdiscontinuous variations
Solution
The theory of natural selection is based on the following factors :
(i) Rapid multiplication and limited food and space which leads to struggle for existence.
(ii) Struggle for existence and variations which leads to natural selection or survival of the fittest.
(iii) Natural selection and inheritance of useful variation over many generation which leads to formation of new species.
Darwin in his 'Natural Selection Theory did not believe in the role of discontinuous variation in natural selection. Darwin always believed in the universal occurrence of variation. In his opinion, variation is continuous in nature.
Related Theory
Because resources are limited in nature, organisms with heritable traits that favour survival and reproduction will tend to leave more offspring than their peers, causing the traits to increase in frequency over generations.
Hence, the correct answer is option: 'D'.