Did Darwin argue that animal breeding (artificial selection) is similar to natural selection?

Darwin did indeed argue that animal breeding, or artificial selection, is similar to natural selection. He used the concept of artificial selection as an important analogy to explain how natural selection works. In domestic animals, breeders select specific traits they desire, such as size, color, or temperament. Over time, this selection leads to significant changes in the breed, reflecting the principles of variation, inheritance, and differential survival that are also central to natural selection.

In his work, particularly in "On the Origin of Species," Darwin emphasized that just as breeders can choose certain traits to propagate, nature "selects" traits that confer a survival advantage in a given environment. The connection between the two forms of selection underlines the role of environmental pressures in shaping the evolution of species over time. Thus, recognizing this link between artificial and natural selection is crucial for understanding Darwin's views on evolution and the processes that drive it.