Natural selection is the mechanism through which populations of organisms evolve over generations. Individuals with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more, passing those advantageous traits to offspring. This process leads to adaptation and speciation.
Individuals in a population vary in their traits due to genetic mutations and recombination. This variation is the raw material for evolution.
Some traits confer advantages in survival and reproduction. Selection pressure determines how strongly the environment favors certain traits.
Advantageous traits are passed to offspring. Over many generations, beneficial traits become more common in the population.
Random changes in DNA create new variations. Most are neutral or harmful, but occasionally produce beneficial traits.
Favors one extreme of a trait distribution.
Favors intermediate values, reduces variation.
Favors both extremes over intermediates.
Traits that increase mating success.
Antibiotic resistance evolves through natural selection in bacteria.
Understanding adaptation helps protect endangered species.
Selective breeding uses artificial selection principles.
Computer science uses evolutionary principles for optimization.