Overview

Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who became famous for his theories on evolution. Like several other scientists before him, Darwin believed that, through millions of years, all species of plants and animals had evolved (developed gradually) from a few common ancestors. Darwin set forth his theories in his book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life (1859). Darwin's theories shocked most people of his day, who believed that each species had been created by a separate divine act. His book, which is usually called simply The Origin of Species, presented facts that refuted this belief. It caused a revolution in biological science and greatly affected religious thought.

The ideas reflected in this fictitious interview come from Darwin's autobiography. Darwin's theories of evolution through natural selection gave biologists new insights into the origin of living things and the relationship among species. Darwin's theories also stimulated studies in biology, particularly in paleontology and comparative anatomy, and have provided the foundation for the modern field of biology.