natural selection

noun

: a natural process that results in the survival and reproductive success of individuals or groups best adjusted to their environment and that leads to the perpetuation of genetic qualities best suited to that particular environment

Examples of natural selection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After the interbreeding, natural selection kept a few traits from Neanderthals while ditching many more. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024

Biological evolution, with DNA mutations creating the configurations that persist through reproduction and natural selection, would then be only one subset of this broader law. —Paul Voosen, science.org, 1 Nov. 2024

That is, as time goes on, a system will grow more diverse and complex, enriched in the functions needed for survival, through a kind of natural selection. —Paul Voosen, science.org, 1 Nov. 2024

Since there are way more eggs than there are mature animals, and a lot of them die, natural selection for survival through the egg stage is likely extremely powerful, says Warkentin. —Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

natural selection

noun

: a natural process in which individuals or groups best adapted to the conditions under which they live survive and produce young and poorly adapted forms are eliminated

Medical Definition

natural selection

noun

: a natural process that results in the survival and reproductive success of individuals or groups best adjusted to their environment and that leads to the perpetuation of genetic qualities best suited to that particular environment