Breeding

Selective breeding: organisms with advantageous (for the breeder), e.g plants with high yields, animals with particular behaviour patterns, colour fur etc

They are separated and bred together, to increase the chances of the trait passing on the offspring

The process is repeated which can accentuate those traits

Natural Selection

• Exactly the same process

• Variation exists in a population

• Conditions in the ecosystem increase the probability of certain traits survival

• Organisms that survive have an increased chance of having offspring and passing on those traits

• The process repeats leading to evolution (change over time)

Misconceptions - Natural Selection

Organisms aren’t ‘trying’ to evolve

• Lemark: suggested acquired characteristics are passed onto offspring

  • E.g. Giraffes reach (stretching their necks) pass this on to the next generation

• Survival of the fittest does not mean the physically fittest

• Evolution by natural selection does not evolve towards a goal

• Natural selection is not random