Natural Selection Quiz

Mechanism of Evolution

• The key mechanism of evolution is natural selection, which favors heritable traits that enhance survival and reproductive success.

Types of Selection

• Artificial selection is intentional, carried out by humans to produce desired traits in organisms.
• Natural selection is the non-intentional process by which the environment favors certain traits, leading to their increased prevalence in a population.

Traits and Survival

• Traits that enhance survival and reproductive success are more likely to be favored by natural selection.

Changes in Niche

• If new traits become more favored due to changes in a specific niche, the population may adapt to the new environment.

Macroevolution

• Macroevolution occurs when cumulative changes in a population over time lead to the formation of new species.

Role of Natural Selection

• Natural selection plays a crucial role in the evolution of heritable traits by favoring those that enhance survival and reproductive success.

Natural Selection vs. Artificial Selection

• Natural selection is a non-intentional process, whereas artificial selection is intentional and driven by human goals.

Environment and Trait Prevalence

• The environment influences the prevalence of certain traits within a population, with traits that enhance survival and reproductive success being more likely to thrive.

Microevolution vs. Macroevolution

• Microevolution refers to the small-scale changes in a population over a relatively short period, whereas macroevolution involves the formation of new species over a longer period.
• Microevolution can lead to macroevolution if the cumulative changes result in the formation of a new species.

Speciation

• New species can arise as a result of the favoring of new traits, typically when a population becomes reproductively isolated from the original population.