Natural selection: The basics

• There is a fit between organisms and their environments, though not always a perfect fit.
• Artificial selection provides a model for natural selection.
• People selectively breed domesticated plants and animals to produce offspring with preferred characteristics.
• Evolution results from selection acting upon genetic variation within a population.
• Traits that are advantageous often persist in a population.
• The process by which advantageous traits are maintained and disadvantageous traits are weeded out of a population is known as natural selection.
• Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction.
• Depending on environmental conditions, inherited characteristics may be advantageous, neutral, or detrimental.
• Natural selection acts on individuals and populations in a nonrandom way.
• Evolution acts on what exists.
• Populations evolve.
• The proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics may increase due to their increased likelihood of surviving and reproducing.
• Scientists use artificial selection as a model to learn about natural selection.

• Natural Selection