According to Darwin which of the following is a potent force in organic evolution?

Options

A. intraspecific competition
B. Interspecific competition
C. Mutation
D. Gene transfer

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks about the potent force in organic evolution according to Charles Darwin. To answer this, we need to consider Darwin's theories on natural selection and competition.

2. **Defining Organic Evolution**: Organic evolution refers to the changes in the genetic composition of populations over time, leading to the development of new species. Darwin proposed that natural selection is a key mechanism driving this process.

3. **Identifying Competition**: Darwin emphasized the role of competition in nature. There are two types of competition to consider:
- **Intraspecific Competition**: Competition between individuals of the same species.
- **Interspecific Competition**: Competition between individuals of different species.

4. **Analyzing Intraspecific Competition**: Intraspecific competition can lead to survival of the fittest within a species, but it does not directly address the broader interactions between different species.

5. **Analyzing Interspecific Competition**: Interspecific competition occurs when different species compete for the same limited resources. This competition can lead to one species outcompeting the other, resulting in the survival of the better-adapted species and the extinction of the less adapted one.

6. **Conclusion**: Based on Darwin's theory, interspecific competition is a potent force in organic evolution because it drives natural selection by determining which species survive and which do not.

7. **Final Answer**: The correct answer is **interspecific competition**.

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