Natural selection is an important part of how living things change over time. It helps explain how different traits in animals and plants can change from one generation to the next. This happens because some traits help certain individuals survive better than others.
Here are the main parts of natural selection:
Variation: In any group of living things, you will find differences among them. For example, some animals might be different colors or sizes. In some species, even a small difference in height can help them survive better.
Overproduction: Many living things have a lot of babies, much more than can survive. For instance, a pair of rabbits can have over 20 baby rabbits in just one year. This leads to competition for food and space.
Survival of the Fittest: Those with traits that help them survive are more likely to live long enough to have babies. For example, a study showed that darker peppered moths were able to survive better in polluted areas than lighter moths. They had a 20% better chance of living.
Reproduction: The individuals that survive get to pass on their helpful traits to their babies. If 30% of the individuals with a certain helpful trait have babies, then that trait becomes more common in the next generation.
Accumulation of Changes: Over long periods of time, these helpful traits grow in number, leading to changes in the population. This process can be measured with something called the Hardy-Weinberg principle, which helps show how traits are passed on.
Some Examples and Facts:
Overall, natural selection is a key part of how living things evolve and change. It helps explain the variety of life we see around us today.
Natural selection is an important part of how living things change over time. It helps explain how different traits in animals and plants can change from one generation to the next. This happens because some traits help certain individuals survive better than others.
Here are the main parts of natural selection:
Variation: In any group of living things, you will find differences among them. For example, some animals might be different colors or sizes. In some species, even a small difference in height can help them survive better.
Overproduction: Many living things have a lot of babies, much more than can survive. For instance, a pair of rabbits can have over 20 baby rabbits in just one year. This leads to competition for food and space.
Survival of the Fittest: Those with traits that help them survive are more likely to live long enough to have babies. For example, a study showed that darker peppered moths were able to survive better in polluted areas than lighter moths. They had a 20% better chance of living.
Reproduction: The individuals that survive get to pass on their helpful traits to their babies. If 30% of the individuals with a certain helpful trait have babies, then that trait becomes more common in the next generation.
Accumulation of Changes: Over long periods of time, these helpful traits grow in number, leading to changes in the population. This process can be measured with something called the Hardy-Weinberg principle, which helps show how traits are passed on.
Some Examples and Facts:
Overall, natural selection is a key part of how living things evolve and change. It helps explain the variety of life we see around us today.