Dr Mike Sutton says his research proves “overwhelming” similarities between On the Origin of Species and the work of Perthshire-raised Patrick Matthew.

His book Science Fraud: Darwin’s Plagiarism Of Patrick Matthew’s Theory will be published on Saturday.

“This is the biggest science fraud in history,” he said. 

A letter from Darwin’s wife, Emma, provides key evidence. Mr Sutton said: “She wrote claiming Darwin was too ill to write, with a telling line to Matthew. She says, ‘Darwin is more loyal to your own original child than you were yourself’.”