Adaptations develop through natural selection from "summary" of The Structure of Evolutionary Theory by Stephen Jay Gould
The central concept of evolution by natural selection lies in the idea that organisms possessing advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits on to future generations. This process results in the gradual accumulation of adaptations that are well-suited to a particular environment. These adaptations are shaped by the pressures and constraints of the environment in which the organisms live, with those that confer a survival or reproductive advantage being favored by natural selection. Natural selection acts as a filter, allowing only those individuals with beneficial traits to pass their genes on to the next generation. Over time, this leads to the spread of traits that enhance an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment. The process is not directed or purposeful, but rather the result of differential reproductive success among individuals with varying traits. Adaptat...
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