What is the process of natural selection?

Natural selection is a fundamental mechanism in the theory of evolution that explains how species adapt over time. The correct choice captures this process accurately by emphasizing that it involves the survival and reproduction of organisms that are best suited to their environment.

In natural selection, individuals with traits that provide advantages in their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing these beneficial traits to the next generation. Over time, this leads to a population becoming more adapted to its environment, as advantageous traits become more common. This process does not eliminate all organisms or randomly select individuals; rather, it works on the principle that certain traits enhance survival and reproductive success, allowing the best-adapted individuals to thrive.

In summary, natural selection is about the differential survival and reproduction based on genetic traits advantageous to the environment, which leads to the evolution of species over generations.