Final answer:
Evolution involves the random process of mutation creating genetic variation, and the non-random process of natural selection favoring traits that increase an organism's fitness. Over time, species adapt to their environments, leading to better survival and reproduction rates for those with advantageous traits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mutation and Natural Selection in Evolution
Mutation is a process that introduces genetic variation which is the raw material for evolution. These mutations are random and can be beneficial, neutral, or deleterious to an organism's survival. Natural selection is the mechanism that acts on these variations within a population, favoring traits that improve the organism's fitness in its environment. Over time, individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing these traits to the next generation. This adaptation leads to a population that is better suited to its environment and can survive various selective pressures such as predators or changes in climate.
Artificial selection and natural selection both aim at improving a population's fit to its environment, however, while artificial selection is a deliberate process by humans, natural selection occurs due to environmental pressures without human intervention. The long-term result of these processes is a species that is well-adapted to its habitat and capable of surviving and reproducing within a diverse range of environmental conditions.