Natural Selection
Natural selection is a key mechanism of evolution, first proposed by Charles Darwin. It is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. Over time, this leads to the accumulation of favorable traits in a population, and the elimination of less favorable traits.
Key Concepts:
- Variation: Within a population, individuals exhibit variation in their traits. This variation can be inherited from one generation to the next.
- Competition: Resources in the environment are limited, leading to competition among individuals for survival and reproduction.
- Survival of the Fittest: Individuals with traits that make them better adapted to the environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
- Reproduction: Organisms that survive and reproduce pass on their advantageous traits to their offspring, leading to the spread of those traits in the population over time.
Study Guide:
To understand natural selection, it's important to grasp the following key points:
- Describe the concept of variation within a population and how it arises.
- Explain the role of competition in natural selection and how it influences the survival of individuals.
- Discuss the idea of "survival of the fittest" and how it relates to the passing on of advantageous traits.
- Explore examples of natural selection in action, such as antibiotic resistance in bacteria or the evolution of beak shapes in finches.
- Understand how natural selection leads to changes in a population over time, ultimately resulting in the adaptation of organisms to their environment.
By mastering these concepts, you'll have a solid understanding of natural selection and its role in shaping the diversity of life on Earth.
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