What are the four processes of evolution? Briefly describe each process.

Key Concepts

Natural Selection

Natural selection is the process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. This leads to the gradual adaptation of populations to their environments. Over time, advantageous traits become more common, while less beneficial traits may diminish, driving evolutionary change.

Genetic Drift

Genetic drift refers to random changes in allele frequencies within a population, which can lead to significant evolutionary changes over time, especially in small populations. This process can result in the loss of genetic diversity and can cause certain traits to become more or less common purely by chance, rather than through natural selection.

Gene Flow

Gene flow, or gene migration, is the transfer of genetic material between populations through the movement of individuals or their gametes. This process can introduce new alleles into a population, increasing genetic diversity and potentially altering the evolutionary trajectory of the population by making it more adaptable to changing environments.