How does Natural Selection work?
Natural selection is a key factor in evolution and works through various interconnected steps. The steps are :
- First, within a population, there exists variation, meaning individuals exhibit different traits. These variations can be inherited or arise from genetic mutations.
- Second, the environment exerts selective pressures on individuals. These pressures can be biotic, such as competition for resources or predation, or abiotic, including climate or habitat conditions. Certain traits may provide advantages in dealing with these pressures.
- Third, there is differential survival and reproduction. Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their genes to the next generation. This leads to a greater representation of those advantageous traits in subsequent populations.
- Fourth, the process of heredity ensures that the advantageous traits are inherited by offspring, increasing their prevalence in the population over time.
- Finally, this process leads to the accumulation of beneficial traits in the population, enhancing the overall fitness and adaptation of the species to its environment. Gradually, populations become better suited to their specific ecological niches. This ongoing process of natural selection continuously shapes the characteristics and diversity of life on Earth.
What is Natural Selection? Evolution with Examples
Natural selection is a fundamental mechanism of evolution that occurs in populations over time. Individuals with certain traits are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on their genes to future generations, thereby influencing the genetic makeup of the population. This process results in the adaptation of populations to their specific ecological niches and the emergence of new species over a period of time. It is a gradual and ongoing process that has shaped the diversity of life on Earth.