Explain how natural selection can lead to speciation.

The theory of natural selection has four postulates of overproduction, struggle for existence,
variations and survival of the fittest. Nature has many survival tests to ensure the selection of
the fittest through the competition for the resources to survive. The organisms have the struggle
of existence but at the same time, they need to breed and reproduce offspring for the survival of
the species. According to this theory, nature has selected or favoured only those individuals
which have favourable variations and are best adapted to the environment. The less fit or unfit
organisms are left out by selection. By the process of natural selection, the favourable
characteristics and traits are transmitted among the generations.​ Natural selection leads to
speciation as individuals that reproduce pass on the nature selected characteristics to the
offspring. Individuals that are better adapted tend to survive and reproduce to give distinct
species when compared to the less well adapted who would die or produce very less offspring.
Mutation, meiosis and sexual reproduction cause variation between two individuals in species.
To produce new species, the members of the different population reproduce through the
process of meiosis. There is exchange of genes between the two mates to produce a new
species of the population. The naturally selected traits dominate the characteristics and
behaviour of the new species.

(220 words)
Sources cited:
IB Biology text book
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/natural-selection/