How Natural Selection Shapes Life on Earth: Fundamentals of the Evolutionary Process

natural selection

A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment.

Natural selection is a fundamental process of evolution that determines which organisms survive and pass on their genes to the next generation. It is based on the idea that heritable traits that favor survival and reproduction will become more common in a population over time, while traits that reduce an organism’s chances of survival or reproduction will become less common.

Natural selection occurs because there are limited resources in any environment and because individuals within a population vary in their traits. For example, in a population of birds, some individuals may have longer beaks that allow them to access food sources that are not available to birds with shorter beaks. Over time, the birds with longer beaks will have an advantage, as they are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their genes for longer beaks to future generations.

Natural selection can lead to the evolution of new species over time. If a population becomes separated, such as by a geographic barrier like a mountain range or body of water, and different selective pressures are present in each area, the populations may evolve in different directions. Eventually, they may become different enough to be considered separate species.

Overall, natural selection plays a vital role in shaping the diversity of life on our planet.

More Answers: