Key Idea.
Section 1
Differential Survival
Individuals with adaptive traits have a distinct advantage: they are more likely to survive long enough to reproduce.
Conversely, individuals with non-adaptive traits are more likely to be eaten or die before they can have offspring. This process filters the population. The environment "selects" the survivors based on their traits.
Section 2
The Population Shift
Evolution is a game of numbers played over time. Because the survivors (who have adaptive traits) are the ones having babies, the next generation will inherit those adaptive traits.
Over many generations, the distribution of traits shifts. The adaptive trait becomes very common, and the non-adaptive trait becomes rare.
Expand to review the lesson summary and core properties.
Section 1
Differential Survival
Individuals with adaptive traits have a distinct advantage: they are more likely to survive long enough to reproduce.
Conversely, individuals with non-adaptive traits are more likely to be eaten or die before they can have offspring. This process filters the population. The environment "selects" the survivors based on their traits.
Section 2
The Population Shift
Evolution is a game of numbers played over time. Because the survivors (who have adaptive traits) are the ones having babies, the next generation will inherit those adaptive traits.
Over many generations, the distribution of traits shifts. The adaptive trait becomes very common, and the non-adaptive trait becomes rare.