Natural Selection Essay

In science today we can see that every species has diversity amongst them. We know that these differences are caused by many different factors. Two of those factors are mutation and natural selection. These two different processes have a major effect on a how species will continue to reproduce and thrive. Both of these methods play a major role in evolution dating back to over a million years ago.

Natural selection is the process where organisms that are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring to continue the species. The better adapted offspring continue to breed with other adapted offspring and continue the cycle of evolutionary change. The theory of natural selection was founded by Charles Darwin and is believed to be the main process that causes evolution today. The process of how natural selection occurs begins by Variation. Variation within species is extremely common. Some animals are larger while some may be a different color. These differences between them set them apart in the ways that may cause them to evolutionary change over time. For example beetles who are blue versus beetles that are brown may be seen easier by predators and will not survive.

Mutation is a permanent change in the DNA sequence that makes up a particular gene. The sequence differs from the vast majority of people making it a genetic mutation and not a genetic variation. Mutations can range from affecting a single DNA base pair or it could be something that majorly affects multiple gene codes. Evolution needs mutations because new alleles are created. However, unlike natural selection mutations do not try to change to support what the organism needs. Mutations are random and although they may be beneficial they are not always. Mutations do not always have a major effect on the host, but they are necessary for evolutionary change to continue to