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Natural Selection Essay

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Natural Selection and Evolutionary Change
Introduction
The theory of evolution proposes that all living organisms on Earth share a common ancestor. Even though the idea of sharing common ancestors sounds far-fetched, the idea is supported by a vast amount of scientific evidence. Many of our features are biological adaptations due to natural selection. Scientists have been able to piece together a complex web of evolutionary relationships by examining the genetic, physical, and mental similarities among different species. This essay explores the scientific method, the history of evolutionary thought, and the various factors that play a role in biological evolution.
Science and Scientific Method
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Biological evolution is how lineages of organisms change throughout the generations due to the lineages diverging off from their common ancestors. (Encyclopedia Britannica "evolution") In simpler terms, biological evolution is the process in which the characteristics of living organisms change over generations. These changes occur through genetic variation, natural selection, and genetic drift. Through biological evolution, populations of organisms can adapt to changing environments, develop new traits, and create new species. Biological evolution is a complex process that involves both microevolution and macroevolution. Microevolution refers to the small-scale changes in a population's genetic makeup over time. These changes can result from things like gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection. Macroevolution, on the other hand, is the large-scale changes that occur over a much longer period. Changes that result in macroevolution are things like environmental changes, ecological interactions, and genetic …show more content…

There are four predominant evolutionary factors: natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow. Natural selection is an evolutionary factor that explains how organisms adapt and evolve over time. Genetic drift is similar to natural selection in that they both result in changes in the frequency of traits within a population. Genetic drift is a random process that occurs in small populations that over time leads to changes in the gene pool. Mutation, on the other hand, can lead to spontaneous new variations of genes in an organism. These changes can happen because of errors during DNA replication or can be caused by environmental factors. Over time, beneficial mutations can cause the evolution of a new species through gene flow. Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material from one organism to another and can occur through migration or breeding between different

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