If given adequate resources, populations can grow at rapid rates. for example, one female mouse can produce a litter of four to fourteen babies every three to four weeks throughout her life. this population growth would most likely be limited by a. a disease which infects the baby mice shortly after birth. b. an increase in the size of the mice's living space. c. fair weather and a consistent climate. d. a decrease in the local owl population.

In 1859, charles darwin published the first edition of on the origin of species, which explained his observations of various groups of animals that showed great similarities but minor differences. darwin concluded that if a population of one species separates into two different populations that live in separate locations, then over the course of many generations the different populations can develop into different species. this idea predicted many future biological findings and became the basis of modern biology. darwin’s explanation for why different species exist is best described as a(n) law. theory. inquiry. hypothesis.