NATURAL SELECTION AND

EVOLUTION
Evolution
A gradual change in the range of organisms on earth for
survival. As a result, new species continually arise from the
species that already exist and other species become extinct.

Natural Selection
It is the mechanism by which new species arise. Changes
take place in the genetic material of an organism over a
period of time so that an organism is better adapted to
survive.

Selection Pressure
It is defined as the environmental change which pressurizes
an organism to evolve and become well-adjusted to the
environment. Examples are food predation disease.

Evidence of Natural Selection

Any evidence for natural selection must show the following:
1. Variation
There is variation within species. Some slight variations
may better adapt the organisms to their environments
than others.
 2. Overproduction
Most organisms produce more young, then will survive
adulthood.
3. Struggle for Existence
Because populations do not generally increase rapidly
in size there must therefore be considerable
competition for survival between organisms.
4. Survival of the Fittest
Only organisms that are really well-adapted will be able
to survive.
5. Selective Advantage
Only well-adapted organisms will be able to reproduce
successfully and pass on their advantageous
characteristics to their offspring.
6. Gradual Change
In this way, over a period of time the population will
lose all the poorly adapted individuals and gradually
become better adapted to its environment.

⮚ Hence, the theory of natural selection suggests that the

best adapted organisms are selected to pass on their
characteristics to the next generation.

Steps of Natural Selection:

1) Selection Pressure
 2) Selection Advantage
3) Gene Mutation
4) Transfer of Gene to the Offspring

Natural Selection in Hoverflies

Two insects that show warning colouration are wasps and
hoverflies and. A wasp can defend itself against predators
using a sting. It also has a body with yellow and black
stripes. Predators such as birds soon learn that these colours
mean wasps have the sting and they avoid attracting them.
Hoverflies do not have a sting. However, they have an
appearance that is very much like a wasp with similar yellow
and black stripes. They are mimics of wasps, but do not have
a sting. Predators treat hoverflies as if they do have a sting
the selection pressure was predation by birds. Among the
ancestors of present day hoverfly there could have been
variation in colours. As a result of mutation some hoverflies
gain genes that produce stripes on their bodies. These
insects were less likely to be eaten by the predators than
hoverflies without the stripes. Hence, the selective
advantage. The genes for stripes are transferred over
generations resulting in the hoverflies as they are today.
Natural Selection in Antibiotic Resistant
Bacteria
Another example of natural selection can be seen in the way
that bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics such as
penicillin. In bacteria a chance mutation could give a
bacterium resistance to penicillin. If this happens the mutant
bacterium will have tremendous advantage, it will go on
reproducing while others cannot. Soon its descendants will
form a huge population of resistant bacteria. This does in
fact happen quite frequently. This is one reason why there
are so many different antibiotics if some bacteria become
resistant to one they may be treated by another.
The more we use an antibiotic the more we are exerting the
selection pressure which favours the resistant form. If
antibiotics are used too often we may end up with resistant
strains of bacteria that are very difficult to control.

Formation of New Species and Natural

Selection
1. Genetic variation
In a population of cacti, some have longer roots than
others. In wet season they flower.
2. Overproduction
The cacti produce large numbers of offspring.
3. Struggle for Existence
 During the dry season there is competition for water.
4. Survival of the Fittest
The cacti with the longest roots are able to obtain water
while the others die of dehydration.
5. Selective Advantage
The long rooted cacti reproduce, producing offspring
more likely to be long rooted themselves.