Controversy Around Natural Selection
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 6.3.2
Controversy Around Natural Selection
At the time, Darwin's ideas were met with significant opposition from the scientific community. Some factors that contributed to the slow acceptance of his ideas were:
Religion
- Natural selection challenged the common belief that God created the natural world.
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Inconclusive evidence
- There were scientists that regarded the evidence presented by Darwin as inconclusive.
Genes yet to be discovered
- At the time, genes had not been discovered and Darwin was unable to suggest a method for the passing of characteristics between generations (from parent to child).
Test yourself on Controversy Around Natural Selection
What was not a genuine reason for the slow acceptance of Darwin's theory of natural selection?
Which group did Darwin's theory of natural selection initially meet opposition from?
A critic argued that the evidence Darwin presented did not fully prove his theory of natural selection. Which reason for the theory's slow acceptance does this describe?
Which process could Darwin not explain using his theory of natural selection?
A historian states that Darwin's theory suggested species were not created by a single divine being. Which reason for the theory's slow acceptance does this describe?