A Complete Guide To What Natural Selection is

By Michael Jumba

Natural selection is a process of evolution that occurs when certain traits or characteristics that are favorable for survival and reproduction are passed down from one generation to the next. The term was first introduced by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in the mid-19th century and is one of the key mechanisms of evolution.The process of natural selection operates through the following steps:

1. Variation: Within a population, individuals have variations in traits that are inherited from their parents.
2. Heritability: Some of these traits are heritable, meaning that they can be passed down from parent to offspring.
3. Differential Reproduction: Individuals with traits that are favorable for survival and reproduction are more likely to produce more offspring than those with less favorable traits. Over time, the frequency of these favorable traits increases in the population.
4. Selection: Over many generations, the accumulation of favorable traits leads to the evolution of a population as a whole. This is known as natural selection.
5. Adaptation: Through natural selection, populations can become adapted to their environment, making them better suited to survive and reproduce in that environment.

It is important to note that natural selection is not directed towards a specific end goal or purpose. It is a blind process that occurs through the interaction of genetic variation, heritability, and the environment. The outcomes of natural selection can be both predictable and unpredictable, and it can lead to the development of new species over time.