What is natural selection?

Natural selection is the process through which individuals with traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This means that these advantageous traits are passed on to the next generation, leading to a gradual change in the population over time. In essence, natural selection acts on the variation within a population, favoring those individuals whose traits confer a survival or reproductive advantage in a given environment.

This concept is fundamental to the theory of evolution, illustrating how adaptation occurs in response to environmental pressures. As the environment changes, the traits that are favorable can also change, which means natural selection is an ongoing process rather than a one-time event. Understanding natural selection is crucial because it explains the diversity of life on Earth and how species evolve over time through differential survival and reproduction.