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Multiple Choice
Why is 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection' considered important in biology?
A
It introduced the concept that species evolve over time through natural selection.
B
It explained the process of mitosis in detail.
C
It provided evidence for the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
D
It was the first book to describe the structure of DNA.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context of the book 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection' by Charles Darwin, which was published in 1859. It is a foundational text in biology that introduced the concept of evolution through natural selection.
Analyze the key contributions of the book. Darwin proposed that species evolve over time due to variations that provide certain individuals with a survival or reproductive advantage in their environment. This process is called natural selection.
Eliminate incorrect options by reviewing their historical context. For example, the book does not explain mitosis, as mitosis was described later by other scientists. Similarly, it does not support the inheritance of acquired characteristics, which was a concept proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and later disproven.
Recognize that the structure of DNA was not described in Darwin's time. The double-helix structure of DNA was discovered much later, in 1953, by James Watson and Francis Crick.
Conclude that the correct answer is: 'It introduced the concept that species evolve over time through natural selection,' as this is the central idea of Darwin's work and its importance in biology.