Luonnonselektiö

Luonnonselektiö is the Finnish term for natural selection, a fundamental mechanism of evolution. It describes the process by which organisms with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully than those with less advantageous traits. This differential survival and reproduction leads to a gradual change in the heritable characteristics of a population over generations.

The core components of natural selection are variation, inheritance, and differential survival and reproduction. Within any population, individuals exhibit variation in their traits. Some of these variations are heritable, meaning they can be passed down from parents to offspring. Environmental pressures, such as limited resources, predation, or climate change, act as selective forces. Individuals possessing traits that enhance their ability to cope with these pressures are more likely to survive, find mates, and produce more offspring. Consequently, the genes responsible for these advantageous traits become more common in the population over time.

Natural selection does not create new traits; rather, it acts upon existing variation. It is a continuous process that drives adaptation, shaping species to fit their ecological niches. Examples of natural selection can be observed in the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, the camouflage patterns of animals, and the beak shapes of finches on the Galapagos Islands. It is a key concept in understanding the diversity of life on Earth.