Genetic variations are important for helping species survive and adapt to their surroundings.

These variations happen through mutations, which are random changes in an organism's DNA.

Sometimes, these mutations create helpful traits that make it easier for living things to survive and have babies.

Examples of Genetic Variation:

1. Peppered Moths:

   • Before the Industrial Revolution, most peppered moths were light-colored.
   • But as pollution darkened the tree bark, darker moths became more common.
   • This happened because darker moths were harder for predators to see.
   • This is a great example of natural selection, where the useful trait (dark color) helped these moths survive better.

2. Darwin’s Finches:

   • In the Galápagos Islands, these birds have different shapes of beaks to help them eat different kinds of food.
   • During dry times, finches with deeper beaks could break open tough seeds.
   • This meant those birds had a better chance of surviving.

Summary:

In simple terms, genetic variations give a group of living things many different traits.

When the environment changes, the individuals with helpful traits are more likely to survive and have babies, passing on those good genes.

This idea is often summed up by Darwin’s phrase “survival of the fittest,” which shows how nature chooses traits that help with survival and having offspring.