Natural Selection and Evolution

As we move forward after learning about genetics, we're focusing on natural selection and evolution. Differences in survival and reproduction among members of a population as a result of environmental pressure- that's natural selection. Environmental pressure can come from limited resources (like food, water and space), predators and/or disease.

In our lab, the tweezer beaked birds couldn't eat many beans or fruit loops, so they didn't survive or reproduce (they went extinct). The spoon beaked birds could eat a lot, so they survived and reproduced. The spoon trait was the best suited variation for the environment, and it helped the bird survive and reproduce, so that trait was passed down to it's offspring.

Evolution is the of change in traits in a population over time. Natural selection is HOW this change happens.