Natural Selection
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Natural Selection is the process where environmental conditions mean some members of a species are more likely to survive and others more likely to die due to variation within a species.
About Natural Selection
- Natural Selection causes evolution of species.
- Natural Selection can happen due to the physical environment making some variations more likely to survive than others or due to other organisms in the food chain.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Natural Selection is a process in which the conditions in an ecosystem favour the survival and reproduction of individuals with particular characteristics and is known to be the cause of evolution.
About Natural Selection
Natural Selection is caused by three factors:
- There is variation within a species.
- Variations can be passed down from parent to offspring.
- Populations always produce more offspring than the environment can support which causes competition.
- The variation between organisms within a species is now known to be caused by mutations in genes which result in individuals having new and slightly altered features.
References
AQA
- Natural selection, page 235, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
- Natural selection, page 74, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Natural selection, pages 200, 220-221, 236-241, 244-247, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Natural selection, pages 212, 214, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA
- Natural selection, pages 287, 304, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
- Natural selection, pages 58-60, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Natural selection, pages 96, 102, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Natural selection, page 32, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Natural selection, page 58, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel
- Natural selection, page 78, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel
- Natural selection, pages 125-129, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel
- Natural selection, pages 45, 46, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel