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What is Natural Selection?

What is Natural Selection?

Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.The Theory of Natural...

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

The principle of natural selection posits that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This principle is closely intertwined with mating preferences, a key aspect of sexual selection, which evolutionary psychologists believe is driven by instincts to propagate one's genes. Such instincts significantly influence mating behaviors and preferences between genders.
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing, inherently...

Limits to Natural Selection

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations, psychological...

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...

Genetic Drift

Genetic Drift

Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.Life is not fair. A deer grazing contentedly in a field can have her meal cut tragically short by a bolt of lightning. If the doomed doe is one of only three in the population, 1/3 of the population’s gene pool is lost. Random events like this can...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Thinking about evolutionary mechanisms: natural selection.

Robert A Skipper¹, Roberta L Millstein

¹Department of Philosophy, ML 0374, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0374, USA. robert.skipper@uc.edu

Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences

|March 6, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study examines natural selection within mechanistic philosophy. Neither dominant mechanistic framework fully captures natural selection, but the new mechanistic philosophy offers potential for understanding this evolutionary mechanism.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Philosophy of science
Mechanistic philosophy

Background:

Natural selection is a core evolutionary mechanism.
The new mechanistic philosophy offers two dominant frameworks for understanding mechanisms: Glennan's and Machamer, Darden, and Craver's.
Characterizing natural selection within these frameworks is crucial for understanding evolutionary processes.

Observation:

This paper analyzes natural selection through the lens of the new mechanistic philosophy.
The study evaluates the adequacy of Glennan's and Machamer, Darden, and Craver's mechanistic conceptions in explaining natural selection.
The core of the analysis lies in assessing the compatibility of natural selection with established mechanistic models.

Findings:

Neither of the dominant mechanistic conceptions adequately characterizes natural selection.
Existing mechanistic frameworks fall short in fully encompassing the complexities of natural selection.
The analysis reveals limitations in current mechanistic models when applied to evolutionary biology.

Implications:

The new mechanistic philosophy, despite its current limitations, retains resources for a future understanding of natural selection.
Further development within mechanistic philosophy may be needed to fully integrate evolutionary mechanisms.
This work highlights the need for refining mechanistic explanations to better account for biological processes like natural selection.