View source for On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin (1859)

==Introduction==
"On the Origin of Species" is a seminal work by [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]], first published on 24 November 1859. The book introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. It presented a body of evidence that the diversity of life arose by common descent through a branching pattern of evolution.

[[Image:Detail-51279.jpg|thumb|center|A vintage hardcover book with the title "On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin"|class=only_on_mobile]]
[[Image:Detail-51280.jpg|thumb|center|A vintage hardcover book with the title "On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin"|class=only_on_desktop]]

==Background==
Darwin's book was the culmination of evidence he had accumulated on the [[HMS Beagle|Beagle expedition]] in the 1830s and added to through continuing investigations and experiments since his return. It was written for non-specialist readers and attracted widespread interest on its publication. The book was controversial because it contradicted the creation stories found in the Bible and seemed to support radical ideas, such as those of political economist [[Thomas Robert Malthus|Malthus]], whose ideas on population growth and control Darwin had integrated into his theory.

==Content==
"On the Origin of Species" is divided into fourteen chapters. The first four chapters lay out the evidence for evolution by natural selection, including the analogy of artificial selection by breeders. The fifth chapter deals with the difficulty of accepting evolution due to the lack of transitional forms in the fossil record, a problem Darwin called the "imperfection of the geological record."

The next five chapters provide detailed evidence of evolution based on Darwin's extensive study of biogeography, embryology, morphology, and vestigial structures. The final four chapters address the probability of evolution and how it can be used to explain the complex ecological relationships and morphological structures observed in nature.

==Impact==
The publication of "On the Origin of Species" brought the scientific community round to the idea of evolution, and over time, most religious groups have come to reconcile their beliefs with the scientific evidence for evolution. The book has remained in print since its first publication, and continues to be a cornerstone of evolutionary biology.

==See Also==
* [[Evolution]]
* [[Natural selection]]
* [[Charles Darwin's health]]
* [[Darwinism]]

[[Category:Science Literature]]
[[Category:Evolutionary Biology]]
[[Category:Charles Darwin]]