Answer: Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection is a fundamental concept in the field of biology and explains how species evolve over time.
1. Variation: Within any population, there is variation in traits, such as size, color, or behavior. This variation arises due to genetic differences and random mutations.
2. Inheritance: Offspring inherit traits from their parents, meaning that certain characteristics are passed down from generation to generation.
3. Overproduction: Populations tend to produce more offspring than the environment can support. This leads to competition for limited resources, such as food, water, and shelter.
4. Differential Survival and Reproduction: Individuals with traits that are better suited to their environment have a higher chance of surviving and reproducing. These advantageous traits are then passed on to future generations.
5. Natural Selection: The environment acts as the selective pressure that determines which traits are advantageous or disadvantageous. Individuals with beneficial traits are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on those traits to their offspring. This process is called natural selection.
6. Adaptation: Over time, natural selection leads to the accumulation of advantageous traits in a population. These traits, known as adaptations, increase the fitness of individuals, allowing them to better survive and reproduce in their specific environment.
7. Evolution: Through the process of natural selection, populations gradually change and adapt to their environment. This can lead to the formation of new species over long periods of time.