Who is credited with the theory of evolution by natural selection?

The theory of evolution by natural selection is most famously attributed to Charles Darwin. He introduced this concept in his groundbreaking work "On the Origin of Species," published in 1859. Darwin proposed that species evolve over time through a process where individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This process leads to the gradual adaptation of species, contributing to their evolutionary change.

Other figures mentioned, like Louis Pasteur, are renowned for their accomplishments in microbiology and the development of vaccines, not for contributions to evolutionary theory. Gregor Mendel is known as the father of genetics for his work on inheritance patterns in pea plants, which later contributed to understanding inheritance in the context of evolution but did not specifically address natural selection. Albert Einstein is celebrated for his contributions to physics, particularly the theories of relativity, and did not engage with evolutionary biology in the same way as Darwin. Therefore, Charles Darwin remains the foundational figure for the theory of evolution by natural selection.