1. How Can We Best Understand Darwin’s Theory?

2. We are all very different
Individual organisms in nature differ from one another. Some of this variation is inherited

3. Some of us won’t make it.
Organisms in nature produce more offspring than can survive, and many of those that survive do not reproduce.

4. Competition
Because more offspring are produced than can survive, members of each species must compete for limited resources

5. Advantages and Disadvantages
Because each individual organism is unique, each has specific advantages and disadvantages in the struggle for existence.

6. Survival of the Fittest
Individuals best suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully.
These traits are passed on to their offspring.
Individuals who are not well suited to their environments die or leave fewer offspring

7. Living Things Change Species change over time.
Over long periods, natural selection causes changes in the characteristics of a species, such as in size and form.
New species arise and other species disappear.

8. Descent with Modification
Species alive today have descended with changes from species that lived in the past

9. We are all related
All organisms on Earth are united into a single tree of life by common descent.