Natural selection is one of the main concepts in the theory of evolution. Natural selection was put forward by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. British naturalist Charles Darwin thought that there was a natural selection by examining plants, animals and fossils on the islands in South America and the Pacific for five years. In 1859, he presented the idea of natural selection to the world in his best -selling book, Origin of Species. So, what is natural selection?
What is natural selection 🧬

The basic concept of natural selection is as follows; Individuals in a population vary in their characteristics such as physical characteristics. Some of these features can be advantageous, allow individuals to adapt to their environment better and increase their chances of survival and reproduction. Other features can be disadvantaged and may reduce the suitability of the individual. Individuals with advantageous features transfer these features to their offspring. Over time, as advantageous features become more common, the population fits better to the environment. Natural selection is directed by several basic factors:
- Genetic and phenotypic diversity that can be inherited in a population and can be transferred to future generations
- The selective pressure imposed by the environment affects the characteristics and qualities of the individual.
- The features that provide advantages through inheritance are transferred to the offspring.
- It means that individuals with different reproduction and advantages have higher probability of survival, reproduction and transfer their genes to the next generation.
The idea that species changes over time in order to survive in their environment is the natural choice itself. This idea is the cornerstone of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. In practice, natural selection occurs when mutations (changes) in the DNA of an organism are superior. Such mutations provide competitive advantage to the organism.
Mutations are changes in the structure of molecules that make up genes called DNA. The mutation of genes is an important source of genetic diversity within the population. Mutations can be random, and may occur as a result of exposure to something in the environment, such as harmful chemicals or radiation. Mutations can be harmful, neutral or sometimes useful. Mutations can be transferred to the offspring when germ cells (eggs and sperm) occur.
If the environment changes rapidly, some species may not be able to adapt quickly through natural selection. By examining the fossil records, we know that most of the organisms that once lived on Earth are now exhausted. For example; Dinosaurs. An invasive species, a disease organism, environmental change resulting in disaster, or a highly successful hunter, can contribute to the exhaustion of the generation of species.
Is natural selection hereditary 🧐
Natural selection is a process that increases the chances of an organism’s chances of survival and supports hereditary characteristics that enable the organism to grow further.
What is adaptation 🤔
Adaptation is a physical or behavioral feature that helps to survive around an organism. There is a difference between natural selection and adaptation. Natural selection is a process, adaptation is a feature. In the natural selection process, hereditary properties are transferred. Adaptation is a genetic feature.
What is artificial selection ❓
Artificial selection is the steps taken to determine the characteristics of people in plants and animals and to develop and maintain these features in future generations. Artificial selection works in the same way as natural selection, but in the natural selection, it is not the human intervention that makes these decisions in the natural selection.
Natural Selection Samples 🦋

- Darwin (Galapagos) Ispinos: During drought times, larger beak ispinosis survive better than smaller beak.
- Pavus Birds: Pavus bird females choose their spouses according to the tail of the male. Those with the largest and brightest tails mate more often.
- Deer Mouse: The deer mice that migrated to the sand hills of Nebraska quickly turned from dark brown to light brown; This change enabled the species to survive in this environment.
- Snake Fish: Most snakes eat especially fish and heads that do not require a strong bite. Mura snake fish have evolved and had a second jaw and teeth that allow them to eat hard shelled hunting huntings such as crab and snails.
- Ants: Warrior ants have a chemical signal that says not to attack other ants in the family. Some have adapted and learned to imitate the chemical signal from other colonies.