Natural selection causes changes in population individuals phenotypes genotypes
, and ultimately, the frequency of certain traits in a population over time. Individuals with advantageous traits that increase their chances of survival and reproduction are more likely to pass on their genes to the next generation, leading to an increase in the frequency of those traits in the population. Conversely, individuals with disadvantageous traits may be less likely to survive and reproduce, resulting in a decrease in the frequency of those traits in the population.
In this way, natural selection acts as a mechanism for evolution, driving the adaptation of populations to their environment over generations. By favoring certain traits and selecting against others, natural selection can cause populations to change in response to changes in their environment, leading to the diversity of life forms we see on Earth today.