Natural Selection

Definition

Natural selection is the process by which certain traits become either more or less common in a population over time. It is a key mechanism of evolution, where organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those traits to future generations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Natural selection is the driving force behind the evolution of species, as it favors the survival and reproduction of organisms with beneficial traits.
2. Variations in traits among individuals in a population are essential for natural selection to occur, as it provides the raw material for selection to act upon.
3. Organisms with traits that are well-suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those advantageous traits to their offspring.
4. Natural selection can lead to the emergence of new species, the adaptation of species to their environments, and the extinction of less-adapted organisms.
5. Understanding the principles of natural selection is crucial in the study of biological anthropology, as it explains how humans and other primates have evolved over time.

Review Questions

• Explain how natural selection relates to the study of biological anthropology and the evolution of humans.
  • Natural selection is a fundamental concept in biological anthropology, as it helps explain how humans and other primates have evolved over time. By favoring the survival and reproduction of individuals with beneficial traits, natural selection has shaped the physical and behavioral characteristics of human populations. Understanding natural selection is crucial for understanding the evolutionary history of our species, including the emergence of modern humans and the adaptations that allowed us to thrive in diverse environments.
• Describe how genetic variation within a population is essential for natural selection to occur, and how this relates to the study of human genomes.
  • Genetic variation is the raw material upon which natural selection acts. Without variation in traits among individuals, there would be no differences in fitness, and natural selection could not occur. In the context of tracking genomes and understanding our human story, genetic variation is crucial, as it allows researchers to identify the genetic changes that have occurred over time and how they have contributed to the evolution of our species. By studying the genomes of diverse human populations, scientists can uncover the genetic adaptations that have arisen through natural selection, shedding light on our evolutionary history.
• Analyze how the principles of natural selection, such as the role of fitness and adaptation, are observed in the past and present evolution of human populations, as described in the topics 'Evolution in Action: Past and Present' and 'Tracking Genomes: Our Human Story Unfolds'.
  • The topics 'Evolution in Action: Past and Present' and 'Tracking Genomes: Our Human Story Unfolds' explore how the principles of natural selection have shaped the evolution of human populations over time. Natural selection favors the survival and reproduction of individuals with traits that confer higher fitness, or the ability to survive and reproduce in a given environment. These adaptations, which arise through genetic variation, are then passed on to future generations, leading to the evolution of human populations. By studying the fossil record and analyzing human genomes, researchers can observe how natural selection has acted on human populations in the past and present, driving the emergence of new traits and the adaptation of our species to diverse environments. This understanding of natural selection is essential for piecing together our human story and the evolutionary processes that have led to the diversity of humanity we see today.

Related terms

Adaptation:

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment. Adaptations arise through the process of natural selection.

Fitness:

The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in a given environment. Organisms with higher fitness are more likely to pass on their traits to the next generation.

Genetic Variation: The differences in genetic makeup among individuals in a population. Genetic variation is the raw material for natural selection to act upon.