How does natural selection lead to evolution?

Natural selection plays a pivotal role in the process of evolution by favoring traits that enhance an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment. This mechanism operates on the principle that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive challenges such as predation, climate changes, and competition for resources. As a result, these individuals are more likely to pass their beneficial traits to the next generation, gradually accumulating these adaptations within a population over time.

This process leads to a gradual change in the genetic makeup of the population, which is the essence of evolution. For example, in a population of animals, those with physical characteristics that better suit their habitat or behaviors that give them an edge in finding food or avoiding predators will thrive more effectively than those lacking these traits. Over many generations, these advantageous traits become more common, demonstrating how natural selection can shape the evolutionary path of species.

In contrast, while random mutation introduces genetic variation within a population and is a critical component of evolution, it is the process of natural selection that determines which mutations are beneficial. Genetic diversity and interbreeding contribute to a population’s adaptability and resilience but do not directly drive the selection of traits. Therefore, favoring traits that enhance survival and reproduction is the key mechanism through which natural selection