6.3.1

Natural Selection

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Natural Selection

Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection proposed that all species have evolved from simple life forms that first appeared on Earth more than three billion years ago. The process is:

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Genetic variation

  • Different individual animals in a population (or species) have different combinations of genes (show genetic variation).
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Survival of the fittest

  • Individuals that are best adapted to the environment will have a greater chance of survival.
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Successful breeding

  • Individuals with the best chances of survival are the most likely to breed successfully (because they survive).
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Best characteristics survive

  • The characteristics responsible for the greater chance of survival are more likely to be passed on to the next generation.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

1.1What's in Cells?

1.2Cell Division

1.3Transport in Cells

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

5.1Homeostasis

5.2The Human Nervous System

5.3Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4Plant Hormones

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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