In three to five sentences, construct an argument for the claim that natural selection leads to evolution. Provide evidence for this claim, and be sure to explain how an organism shows the four parts of the process of natural selection.
You may use any organism with the exception of bacteria and antibiotic resistance. (4 points)
Natural selection is a key driving force behind the process of evolution. One example is the classic case of the peppered moth (Biston betularia) during the industrial revolution in England. The light-colored moth had been the dominant form since it was best camouflaged against the lichen-covered trees, but as industrial pollution darkened the tree trunks, a dark-colored variant became advantageous. The dark moths were better able to blend in, reducing their chances of predation, and as a result, their population increased while the light-colored moths declined. Here, the process of natural selection is evident - there is heritable variation (light and dark morphs), differential reproductive success (dark moths have higher survival rates), competition for resources (camouflage against tree trunks), and adaptation to new environmental conditions (dark coloration). Thus, the example of the peppered moth clearly shows how natural selection drives evolution in organisms.
