Selection, Third Principle of Natural Selection
Selection is the third of the five principles of natural selection introduced by Charles Darwin in The Origin of Species. Darwin wrote –
“Over all these causes of Change I am convinced that the accumulative action of Selection, whether applied methodically and more quickly, or unconsciously and more slowly, but more efficiently, is by far the predominant Power.”
To explain selection, Darwin drew a parallel between a breeder’s selection process and natural selection, using pigeon breeding (pictured above) as one example. At the time, breeding pigeons was a prestigious pastime for the elite.
