microevolutionnatural

Microevolution refers to the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. It is the smallest scale of evolution, operating within a population or species. These changes are driven by four primary mechanisms: mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection. Mutation introduces new genetic variation into a population, while gene flow involves the transfer of genetic material from one population to another. Genetic drift is the random fluctuation of gene frequencies from one generation to the next, particularly significant in small populations. Natural selection, a cornerstone of evolutionary theory, favors individuals with traits that enhance survival and reproduction in their specific environment, leading to an increase in the frequency of those advantageous alleles over time.

The accumulation of microevolutionary changes can, over long periods, lead to significant alterations within a lineage and can ultimately result in the formation of new species, a process known as speciation. Understanding microevolution is fundamental to comprehending the broader patterns of evolution observed in the fossil record and in the diversity of life on Earth today. It is a continuous and ongoing process that shapes the genetic makeup of all living organisms.