Definition of Natural Selection
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Cecilia Bembibre, on Sep. 2010
The concept of natural selection was that developed and implemented by the naturalist and biologist English Charles Darwin in the 19th century after observing numerous systems of flora Y fauna in various parts of the world. This concept supposes, in general terms, the idea that living beings develop a more or less effective adaptation system to the environment in which they live. that depends on its intrinsic abilities to find food, to survive possible predators, to survive different climatic conditions, etc. The idea of natural selection allows us to understand then that as life develops on the planet, it takes place a process of selection of the fittest, strongest and most prepared beings to face different types of situations or circumstances.
When we talk about natural selection we can also talk about evolution. In fact, the theory of Darwin's evolution is nothing more than this: to pose the existence of differences between different types of animals and plants to survive both in the short and long term in an environment that may have characteristics hostile. Thus, natural selection or the evolution of species makes two different living beings (for example, a
mammal and an amphibian) face the same situation with similar characteristics for both (for example, a flood), but that only one of them two survive by having managed to develop elements that allow it (in this case, the amphibian would be more prepared to be able to subsist in both media).The idea of natural selection is purely biological, or at least that is how it was raised and conceptualized by Darwin. However, when we talk about the human being, it becomes much more complex since it is not only spoken from one point of view biological or natural, but also include social or cultural elements that make a person succeed in his work and therefore wear a quality of life while another, perhaps due to lack of opportunities or not having developed certain traits, fell into misery and poverty. This is where the theory of natural selection becomes controversial.
Topics in Natural Selection