Natural selection

Define natural selection and explain its significance as the primary mechanism driving evolution.
Describe the four key steps involved in the process of natural selection: variation, competition, adaptation/survival, and inheritance.
Provide and explain examples of how natural selection has occurred in different organisms, such as peppered moths or antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Natural selection is the process by which organisms that are best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Over time, this can lead to the evolution of new species.
The theory of evolution, proposed by Charles Darwin, states that all living organisms are descended from a common ancestor and have evolved over time through natural selection.

Variation: Individuals within a population have genetic variations that can affect their traits.
Competition: Organisms produce more offspring than can survive, leading to competition for resources.
Adaptation and survival: Individuals with traits that are best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Inheritance: The traits of successful individuals are passed on to their offspring, leading to a gradual change in the population over time.

The process of natural selection

Peppered moths: During the Industrial Revolution, the dark-colored peppered moths became more common in polluted environments, as their camouflage helped them avoid predation.
Antibiotic resistance: Bacteria can evolve resistance to antibiotics, making it difficult to treat infections.
Galapagos finches: The beak shapes of Galapagos finches have evolved to suit different diets, such as seeds or insects.

Natural selection: The process where organisms with traits best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Adaptation: A characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
Environment: The surroundings or conditions in which an organism lives.
Survive: To remain alive.
Reproduce: To produce offspring.
Evolution: The process by which species change over time, driven by natural selection.
Variation: Differences in characteristics among individuals within a population.
Competition: The struggle among organisms for limited resources needed for survival.
Inheritance: The passing of traits from parents to their offspring.

Research and describe another real-world example of natural selection that has been observed and studied (e.g., pesticide resistance in insects, or changes in physical traits of animal populations in response to environmental changes).
Discuss how human activities, such as the overuse of antibiotics, the use of pesticides, or causing habitat changes, can influence the process of natural selection in other organisms.