Natural Selection (Noun)
Meaning
A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The peppered moths' change in color from light to dark is an example of natural selection, as the dark-colored moths were better camouflaged on the tree trunks darkened by pollution.
- The evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a consequence of natural selection, where the bacteria that are susceptible to the antibiotic die, leaving the resistant ones to multiply.
- The development of stronger limbs in the ancestors of modern birds is an instance of natural selection, as those with stronger limbs were more likely to survive and reproduce.
- The peppered moths' shift from trees to trunks and then back to trees again demonstrates the flexibility of natural selection in adapting organisms to changing environments.
- Natural selection played a key role in the adaptation of the polar bear to its Arctic environment, where the bear's white coat provides camouflage and insulation.