Brittny Camese
BIO 101 Introduction to Biology
Natural Selection and Speciation
Professor Jason Haineault
March 23, 2018
Question 1
Natural selection from what I understand is the evolving of a certain species through adaptation,
to fit their environment. Many species of animals have evolved to fit the environmental changes
over the years, like the example of the peppered moths the lighter variety became extinct because
they were easier prey in a polluted environment. Another example would be the finches who
over time, beak characteristics changed to fit their environment. Their beaks are essential for
eating and the species who didn’t have the right size beaks eventually died out from malnutrition,
and the new natural selections of finches mated and made off spring with correct size beaks
essential for consumption (evolution is amazing). Another example of natural selection as
explained by Sarah Quinlan as genetic mutation, “Natural selection typically works against the
organism, eliminating the individuals that are not suited for the environment. For example, a
population of pest insects frequently encounters pesticides in its environment. Most insects in the
initial generation die, but if a few individuals have a genetic mutation for pesticide resistance,
these few will survive and reproduce. Their offspring are more likely to be pesticide resistant.
