Is natural selection a random process?

Genetic changes in individuals are the "natural selection" starting point. These changes are inherently random because there is no pattern or predictability to the type or timing of the changes.

The process of "natural selection" can be seen to follow certain non-random principles, but the initiating event is random. Consequently, whether a change survives "natural selection" is less random because it is possible to identify a great many types of changes that would not only not provide a survival advantage, but could also be detrimental to the individual and species.

No, natural selection is not a random process. It is the process by which organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those traits to future generations. This process leads to the gradual adaptation of populations to their environments over time.