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

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1. 1. **Natural Selection**: This is the process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. The theory of its action was first fully expounded by Charles Darwin and is now believed to be the main process that brings about evolution.
2. 2. **Mutation**: Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence of a cell's genome and are a major source of genetic variation. They can be caused by various factors, including environmental influences and errors during DNA replication.
3. 3. **Gene Flow**: Also known as gene migration, this is the transfer of genetic variation from one population to another. If the rate of gene flow is high enough, then two populations are considered to have equivalent genetic diversity and therefore effectively be a single population.
4. 4. **Genetic Drift**: This is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random fluctuations in the frequencies of alleles from one generation to the next. It is most significant in small populations and can lead to the loss of genetic variation.

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.