Luonnonvalinnassa

Luonnonvalinnassa is a Finnish term that translates to "natural selection" in English. It is a fundamental mechanism of evolution, proposed by Charles Darwin, which describes the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This leads to the gradual accumulation of favorable traits within a population over successive generations.

The core principles of natural selection involve variation within a population, inheritance of traits from parents to offspring, and differential survival and reproduction. Individuals within a species exhibit a range of variations in their characteristics. Some of these variations are heritable, meaning they can be passed down. Due to limited resources and environmental pressures, not all individuals survive to reproduce. Those with traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in a particular environment are more likely to pass on those advantageous traits. Over time, this process can lead to significant changes in the characteristics of a population, and even the formation of new species.

Natural selection acts on phenotypes, the observable characteristics of an organism, which are influenced by their genotypes and environmental factors. The environment plays a crucial role in determining which traits are advantageous. What is beneficial in one environment might be neutral or detrimental in another. This dynamic interaction between organisms and their environment drives evolutionary adaptation.