The Role Of Natural Selection In Organisms

Natural selection is the main scientific method of evolution and the precursor to an organisms transformation over a scale of time. In natural selection organisms that survive have heritable traits that aid in reproduction thus becoming prevalent in that organisms population. Jurmain(2013) explains in our textbook, that, through the aid of Thomas Malthus ideas, Charles Darwin was able to grasp the explanation of selection in nature (page40). Jurmain(2013) states “In the struggle for existence, those individuals with favorable variations would survive and reproduce, but those with unfavorable variations would not” (page 40). Inside a population of organisms some may experience mutations through naturally occurring genetic variations that will guide the adaptive traits causing successful reproduction. So, lets say, …show more content…
Genetically, in terms of heredity, the black ants will reproduce and pass on the stronger traits. In our text, Jurmain(2013) describes selective pressures as “Forces in the environment that influence reproductive success in individuals” (page 41). Many organisms experience these selective pressures due to climate change and are aggressively seeking adaptive qualities to survive. For instance, the genetic make up of individual organisms, or their genotypes, plays a crucial role when climate change forces adaptation. According to Godfrey-Smith (2009) “These formulations are usually interpreted as saying that whenever we have variation, heritability, and fitness differences with respect to a particular trait in a population, change in that trait will ensue” (page 20). Time and an organisms duration of life plays a key role when discussion genetic variations and adaptation. Throughout evolution the natural selection of genetic traits has produced physiological, behavioral and structural adaptations in the ongoing battle of for natural