Selection

In the context of evolution, certain traits or alleles of a species may be subject to selection. Under selection, individuals with advantageous or "adaptive" traits tend to be more successful than their peers reproductively--meaning they contribute more offspring to the succeeding generation than others do. Selection therefore increases the prevalence of these traits, because offspring inherit traits from their parents. When selection is intense and persistent, adaptive traits become universal to the population or species, which may then be said to have evolved.

Related Topics:
Evolution - Allele - Species - "adaptive" - Inherit

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~