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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.

Antibiotic Selection

Antibiotic Selection

Types of Selection

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...

Frequency-dependent Selection

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.

Mutations

Mutations

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

The Lambda Select cII Mutation Detection System

The Lambda Select cII Mutation Detection System

Published on: April 26, 2018

Using the Mutation-Selection Framework to Characterize Selection on Protein Sequences.

Ashley I Teufel¹, Andrew M Ritchie², Claus O Wilke³

¹Department of Integrative Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. ateufel@utexas.edu.

|August 15, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores models of protein evolution, detailing how mutation and selection probabilities are used to detect evolutionary selection on protein sequences. We examine the original model, its advancements, and underlying assumptions.

Keywords:

evolutionary modeling mutation-selection models protein evolution

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Area of Science:

Molecular Evolution
Computational Biology
Genomics

Background:

Protein evolution is driven by mutation and selection.
Detecting selection on protein sequences is crucial for understanding evolutionary processes.
Mechanistic modeling provides a framework for studying these evolutionary forces.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the mathematical framework for modeling protein evolution.
To discuss advances in methods for detecting selection on protein sequences.
To analyze the assumptions inherent in these evolutionary models.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on protein evolution models.
Analysis of mathematical frameworks for mutation and fixation probabilities.
Discussion of various methods developed to detect selection.

Main Results:

The original model provides a foundation for understanding evolutionary dynamics.
Numerous subsequent methods have been developed to refine selection detection.
Assumptions within these models significantly impact results and interpretations.

Conclusions:

Understanding the interplay of mutation and selection is key to deciphering protein evolution.
The reviewed models offer valuable tools for molecular evolution research.
Critical evaluation of model assumptions is essential for accurate evolutionary inference.