What is the process of natural selection?

Prepare for the IB Biology Exam. Study with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Master key concepts and excel in your test!

The process of natural selection is characterized by the idea that organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully than those that are not. This concept is central to the theory of evolution, as it explains how advantageous traits become more common within a population over generations.

Natural selection operates through variations among individuals in a population. These variations can affect an organism's ability to find food, escape predators, or withstand environmental changes. Those individuals with traits that give them a competitive edge are more likely to survive and pass those traits on to their offspring. Over time, this leads to the gradual evolution of species.

The other options do not accurately reflect the principles of natural selection. Organisms do not evolve at the same rate, nor are they created to perfectly suit their environment; rather, they adapt through a process that can lead to new traits developing over generations. Additionally, natural selection is not a random process; it is influenced by environmental pressures that favor certain traits, making the process of adaptation and survival a non-random outcome based on fitness advantages.

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