Final answer:
The typical definition of natural selection is the process where organisms better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more. A more accurate definition specifies that it acts on existing genetic variation, selecting for favorable heritable traits without creating new traits. Natural selection is a mechanism by which evolution occurs over generations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The typical definition of natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This concept suggests that certain traits that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to be passed down through generations, ultimately leading to changes in the population over time. A more accurate definition would emphasize that natural selection acts on existing genetic variation within a population. It is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to variations in phenotype. This process only works with heritable genetic traits (which can be passed from parents to offspring). It's important to note that natural selection does not create new traits, but instead selects for existing traits that are favorable in a given environment. Inherited traits differ from acquired traits as they are transmitted from parents to offspring, such as eye color or certain behaviors, while acquired traits, like muscle strength from exercise, cannot be passed on genetically. These distinctions are crucial when understanding how evolution occurs through natural selection. Over time, these genetic changes can lead to species adapting to new environments, diversifying, and sometimes leading to new species in a process described by the theory of evolution.