Who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

The theory of evolution by natural selection was developed by Charles Darwin. Here are the steps that led to this development:

1. Charles Darwin embarked on a five-year voyage around the world on the HMS Beagle in 1831. During this voyage, he collected a variety of natural specimens, including birds, plants and fossils.

2. Through his observations and studies of these specimens, Darwin noticed differences between similar types of species depending on their geographical location.

3. This led him to propose the idea of natural selection - that species change over time, and traits that help an organism survive in its environment will be passed down through generations.

4. After years of developing his theories, Darwin finally published his groundbreaking book "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" in 1859.

5. The book laid out evidence for evolution and described the process of natural selection. Despite initial controversy, it eventually became a fundamental concept in biology.