8.1.8
Natural Selection
Natural Selection
Natural Selection
Natural Selection is considered the main process of evolution. The theory is often quoted as ‘survival of the fittest’.


Finches
Finches
- Charles Darwin observed that finches evolved to have different beaks due to differences in their environment.
- The different beaks allowed the finches to do different jobs.
- Large beaks allowed some finches to break open nuts.
- Small, pointy beaks allowed some finches to pick out insects from behind tree bark.


What is natural selection?
What is natural selection?
- Only the strongest, fittest, fastest, and most adapted organisms survive to reproduce.
- Only the best-adapted characteristics are passed on to offspring because only the best-adapted organisms survive.
1Year 5: Living Things & Their Habitats
1.1Asexual Reproduction
1.2Sexual Reproduction
1.3Fertilisation
1.4Reproduction in Plants
1.5Life Cycles in Plants
1.6Life Cycles in Mammals
1.7Life Cycles in Amphibians
1.8Life Cycles in Birds
1.9Life Cycles in Insects
1.10Understanding the Natural World
2Year 5: Animals (Including Humans)
3Year 5: Properties & Changes of Materials
3.1Properties of Materials
3.2Separating Mixtures
3.3Experiments
4Year 5: Earth & Space
5Year 5: Forces
5.2Forces that Move Objects
5.3Gears, Levers & Pulleys
6Year 6: Living Things & Their Habitats
6.1Classification of Living Things
7Year 6: Animals (Including Humans)
8Year 6: Evolution & Inheritance
9Year 6: Light
9.1How Do We See?
10Year 6: Electricity
11Year 5 & 6: Working Scientifically
11.1Thinking Scientifically
11.2Scientific Enquiry
11.3Planning an Investigation
11.4Carrying Out an Investigation
11.5Writing Up an Investigation
11.6Conclusions & Discussions
Jump to other topics
1Year 5: Living Things & Their Habitats
1.1Asexual Reproduction
1.2Sexual Reproduction
1.3Fertilisation
1.4Reproduction in Plants
1.5Life Cycles in Plants
1.6Life Cycles in Mammals
1.7Life Cycles in Amphibians
1.8Life Cycles in Birds
1.9Life Cycles in Insects
1.10Understanding the Natural World
2Year 5: Animals (Including Humans)
3Year 5: Properties & Changes of Materials
3.1Properties of Materials
3.2Separating Mixtures
3.3Experiments
4Year 5: Earth & Space
5Year 5: Forces
5.2Forces that Move Objects
5.3Gears, Levers & Pulleys
6Year 6: Living Things & Their Habitats
6.1Classification of Living Things
7Year 6: Animals (Including Humans)
8Year 6: Evolution & Inheritance
9Year 6: Light
9.1How Do We See?
10Year 6: Electricity
11Year 5 & 6: Working Scientifically
11.1Thinking Scientifically
11.2Scientific Enquiry
11.3Planning an Investigation
11.4Carrying Out an Investigation
11.5Writing Up an Investigation
11.6Conclusions & Discussions
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