Natural Selection & Evolution — GCSE Biology Revision
Revise Natural Selection & Evolution for GCSE Biology. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP.
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Go to ClassificationWhat is Natural Selection & Evolution?
Evolution is the gradual change in the inherited characteristics of a population over time, which can lead to the formation of new species. The theory of evolution by natural selection, proposed by Charles Darwin, states that all species have evolved from simple life forms. Natural selection is the process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous alleles.
Board notes: A fundamental concept for all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). The principles of variation, competition, survival of the fittest, and reproduction are key.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
In a population of moths, there is variation in colour, with some being light and some being dark. In a polluted industrial area where trees are blackened by soot, the dark moths are better camouflaged from predators. More dark moths survive to reproduce and pass on the allele for dark colour. Over generations, the frequency of the dark allele increases in the population.
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Common mistakes
- 1Thinking that an organism can 'choose' to adapt. Adaptation is a result of random genetic mutations that happen to be beneficial in a particular environment; it is not a conscious process.
- 2Confusing evolution with natural selection. Natural selection is the mechanism by which evolution occurs.
- 3Believing that evolution is 'just a theory'. In science, a theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.
Natural Selection & Evolution exam questions
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for Natural Selection & Evolution
Core concept
Evolution is the gradual change in the inherited characteristics of a population over time, which can lead to the formation of new species. The theory of evolution by natural selection, proposed by Ch…
Frequently asked questions
What is natural selection?
Natural selection is the process where individuals with genetic traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on those advantageous traits to their offspring.
Who was Charles Darwin?
Charles Darwin was a 19th-century English naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection. His groundbreaking book, 'On the Origin of Species', published in 1859, laid the foundation for modern evolutionary biology.