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Evolution

 

 

Natural Selection

Scientists have many theories about evolution. One theory says that plants and animals evolve through a process called natural selection. Here is how natural selection might work in a population of rabbits.

Natural Selection

 

More rabbits are born than can survive. There isn't enough food or space on the earth to support them all.

 

Natural selectionNo two rabbits are exactly alike. They all have different sizes, shapes, colors, and other traits. These variations (differences) may mean that one rabbit has a better chance of surviving than another. For example, a brown rabbit blends in with its surroundings better than a purple-and-yellow polka-dotted rabbit does. Predators are less likely to see the brown rabbit. Brown fur is an adaptation–a characteristic that helps the rabbit survive.

Natural selectionThe rabbits that live long enough to breed may pass on their adaptations to their  young, giving them a better chance of survival. Over many generations, the rabbits that are well-adapted survive, and those that are less well adapted die out. This is called natural selection.

 

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What is evolution?Evolutionary treesCovering the earthNatural selectionEarth and evolutionConvergent evolutionEvidence for evolutionCharles Darwin
 

 

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