What is the difference between natural variation and natural selection?

Question

Samuel Albin · Accepted Answer

Variation is the raw material on which evolutionary force of natural selection can act.

Variations are mainly manifestations of small genetic differences among organisms of same species. Genetic variations add diversity to life.

Variations arise randomly due to mutation of genes. Various forms of genes are called alleles which arise due to mutation and these are inheritable. Generally variations neither help nor harm but that is not true for all variations.

In a population some variations help an organism to survive longer and produce more progeny. Such variations are adaptive variations and organisms with adaptive variations would eventually become more numerous in the population due to differential survival. This is because nature 'selects' favourable variations and allow organisms with favourable variations to survive better through generations.

Idea of natural selection of variations came from British naturalist Charles Darwin.

Andrew Armstrong · Answer

undefined Natural variation is the range of phenotypic differences within a population, while natural selection is the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population over time based on their impact on survival and reproduction.

Cora Andrews · Answer

undefined Natural variation refers to the diversity of traits present within a population of organisms due to genetic differences, environmental factors, and random mutations. Natural selection, on the other hand, is the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population over time due to their influence on survival and reproduction. In natural selection, individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation, while those with less advantageous traits are less likely to reproduce.