Charles Darwin was a 19th century English naturalist. He is famous for his the theory of evolution by natural selectionthat changed the way scientists viewed and interpreted life on Earth.
Darwin's theory, popularized in his book “On the Origin of Species,” states that environmental pressures determine which members of a species can survive long enough to reproduce. Individuals of a species that are best able to adapt to their environment reproduce more often and pass their genes to the next generation, spreading certain physical and behavioral traits within the population. Ultimately, these traits – such as the long neck of a giraffe or the white fur of a polar bear – dominate and shape the evolution of the species.
The theory of evolution through natural selection is still the basis of evolutionary thinking today. But how much do you know about the person behind the theory? Take our quiz to find out.