What conditions are needed for evolution by natural selection to arise?

Evolution by natural selection arises when these three properties are present in a system

  • Heredity - offspring resemble their parents in discrete characteristics.

  • Variation - there are heritable differences between individuals in the population.

  • Limited resources / overproduction - the presence of more offspring than the resources need to support them produces differential survival and selection pressure.

RA

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is mitosis?


Describe how alterations to tumour suppressor genes can lead to the development of tumours.


Describe the physiology of the pancreas


How does chemiosmosis work?