How does natural selection lead to evolution?

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In populations, mutation and recombination generate genetic variation in individuals. Populations also produce far more individuals than can survive, due to limited resources, such as food and water. This creates what Charles Darwin called a "struggle for existence". He noted that only those individuals whose traits are compatible with the environment and which enable them to outcompete their rivals successfully reproduce and pass those traits down to the next generation. This differential reproductive success is what Darwin called natural selection. Consequently, over time the action of natural selection causes a change in the makeup of the population: it becomes composed more and more of individuals who possess those successful traits. This change in the genetic makeup of a population is called evolution.
Because living things that are better adapted to their environment have a better chance of reproducing successfully.

Many small changes can create a whole new species.
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First answer by Dave Wisker. Last edit by Haley Mars. Contributor trust: 2 [recommend contributorrecommended]. Question popularity: 11 [recommend question].

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