Charles Darwin's Theory Of Natural Selection

Horses have been evolving for over 60 million years, the first horse recorded only being around 2 foot high. There are around 7 different evolutions of the horse but most research and fossil records focus on 5 different ones over the years, Eohippus (Hyracotherium leporinum), Mesohippus, Merychippus (Merychippus insignis), Pliohippus, Modern horse (Equus caballus). This research summary will go through horse evolution, Darwin’s theory of evolution, natural selection and how modern DNA technology has help solidify the history of horse evolution. Darwin’s theory of natural selection can be supported by the evolution of horses and fossil records and help in showing the diversity of life.

Charles Darwin was born in 12 February 1809, he was a

naturalist and biologist who spent his life revolutionising biology as people know it. In 1831, at 22 years old, Darwin hopped on HMS Beagle, he was the only naturalist on board. Darwin Spent 5 years travelling the globe and he found Tropical rainforests, new animals he’d never seen before and he found fossils in mountains way above sea level. The notes from this voyage help Darwin co-write the world famous book, “On the Origin of the Species” in 1855-58 (published in 1859). This book describes Darwin’s theory of evolution. Mainly focussing on his findings and workings from the voyage, and introduced the idea of evolution and the diversity of life (Biography.com, 2017). Evolution is the process which we now use to classify the change in organisms over time, these are changes in their physical or behavioural traits.

Natural selection is when organisms adapt to their environment to achieve a higher survival rate and to produce more offspring.