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natural selection — English
The natural process by which a specific population (group of individuals) within a species changes its characteristics over a long period to be better adapted to a particular stress presented by its environment. The term “natural selection” has a long and unpleasant history. It was first used by Charles Darwin when he published his theory of evolution in his famous book On the Origin of Species in 1859. His theory was misconstrued, especially by the clergy, to imply that humans stem from monkeys, which is definately not what the theory posits. The entire theory and its adherents were vilified. However, so many examples of natural selection and evolution have been recorded over the intervening years that it simply cannot be disregarded anymore. All species respond in one way or another to new challenges in their environment. One such reponse is to change its genetic make-up to be better adapted to its environment. The genetic change is achieved by the survival of those individuals in a population who happen to be better equipped to survive, and matings between the more resistant members of the population. Note that individuals do not evolve, populations do. Perhaps it is best explained by one indisputable example. A certain species of white coloured moth occurs in New York City. It was very well camouflaged in the light coloured city environment. But increasing air pollution after the Industrial Revolution (see “Industrial Revolution”) resulted in heavy sedimentation of black soot on the buildings and the white moths were easily seen and caught by birds and other predators. The darker coloured individuals in the population were the only ones to survive and breed. Eventually the entire population consisted of darker coloured individuals and that is why the New York City population of that species is dark coloured, while the species is actually white.
