natural selection

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Charles Darwin: On the Origin of Species

How Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution

Why are children slightly different from their parents?

Read Next

Charles Darwin, carbon print photograph by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1868.

What Darwin Got Right (and Wrong) About Evolution

9 Animals That Look Like Leaves

Newt. Salamanders. Amphibian. Alpine newts. Ichthyosaura alpestris. Caudata. Urodela. Alpine newt swimming underwater.

Deviously Darwinian: 6 Strange Evolutionary Phenomena

Discover

VAN, TURKEY - OCTOBER 25: A building and car ruined during the earthquake of Van-Ercis on October 25, 2011 in Van, Turkey. It is 604 killed and 4152 injured in Van-Ercis Earthquake.

What Is an Aftershock?

Periodical Cicada, Adult, Magicicada spp. Requires 17 years to complete development. Nymph splits its skin, and transforms into an adult. Feeds on sap of tree roots. Northern Illinois Brood. This brood is the largest emergence of cicadas anywhere

Why Do Some Cicadas Appear Only Every 17 Years?

9 of the World’s Deadliest Spiders

solar eclipse, sun, moon, astronomy, space

How Do You Tell the Difference Between Total, Annular, Solar, and Lunar Eclipses?

Artist interpretation of a Space meteoroid impact. Meteor impact. Asteroid, End of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Planet Earth, Doomsday Predictions, comet

10 Failed Doomsday Predictions

Solar Eclipse, Eclipse, Solar Flare, Outer Space, Astronomy

What Causes Lunar and Solar Eclipses?

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

Science & Tech

natural selection

biology

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Feb 29, 2024 • Article History

Charles Darwin: On the Origin of Species

See all media

Category: Science & Tech

Key People:: Charles Darwin; Alfred Russel Wallace; Patrick Matthew; Francisco J. Ayala; H.W. Bates

Related Topics:: survival of the fittest; adaptation; sexual selection; group selection; Darwinian fitness

See all related content →

natural selection, process that results in the adaptation of an organism to its environment by means of selectively reproducing changes in its genotype, or genetic constitution. A brief treatment of natural selection follows. For full treatment, see evolution: The concept of natural selection. In natural selection, those variations in the genotype (the entire complex of genes inherited from both parents) that increase an organism’s chances of survival and procreation are preserved and multiplied from generation to generation at the expense of less advantageous variations. Evolution often occurs as a consequence of this process. Natural selection may arise from differences in ...(100 of 387 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.