Summarize the key points of Darwin's theory of descent with modification, including his proposed mechanism of evolution.

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1. Identify the core concept of Darwin's theory, which is that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual's ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.
2. Explain 'descent with modification' by stating that it suggests all organisms on Earth are connected through descent from a common ancestor that lived in the remote past. Over time, species diverge from this common ancestor, leading to the vast diversity of life seen today.
3. Discuss the role of natural selection in Darwin's theory. Natural selection is the process by which traits that enhance survival and reproduction become more common in successive generations of a population. It acts on the variation among individuals within a population, which arises from random mutations and sexual reproduction.
4. Highlight the importance of variation for natural selection to occur. Without genetic variation, all individuals would be identical, and natural selection would have no material to work on.
5. Mention the impact of Darwin's theory on the scientific community and its status as a foundational concept in biology, which provides a unifying explanation for the adaptation and diversity of all life on Earth.