Natural selection – the best wins
Process by which organisms with adaptations that are more suited to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
In nature’s election (natural selection) the best candidate wins.
Examples
Natural selection has led to redwood trees becoming the largest in the world. Taller trees out-compete smaller ones for light and so are more likely to thrive and reproduce.
Female peacocks find males with the largest and brightest tail feathers more attractive so males with these characteristics reproduce more.
The fastest cheetahs are more likely to catch prey and hence stand a better chance of surviving and reproducing, so the traits that enable them to run fast are more likely to be passed on to subsequent generations.
The best leaves are found at the top of acacia trees, so only giraffes with the longest necks are able to reach them. This has led to those giraffes being more successful and passing on the genes for long necks to their offspring.
