What is the difference between natural and artificial selection?

Natural selection is a process driven by environmental factors, while artificial selection is human-induced for desired traits.

Natural selection, a concept introduced by Charles Darwin, is a process that occurs in nature where organisms with traits best suited to their environment have a higher chance of surviving and reproducing. These favourable traits are then passed on to the next generation. Over time, this process can lead to significant changes in species, even leading to the formation of new species. This is a slow process that takes place over many generations and is driven by environmental factors such as climate, availability of food, and presence of predators.

Artificial selection, on the other hand, is a process where humans selectively breed organisms to produce offspring with desired traits. This is commonly seen in agriculture and animal husbandry, where plants and animals are selectively bred for traits such as higher yield, disease resistance, or specific physical characteristics. Unlike natural selection, artificial selection is a much faster process as humans control the breeding and can therefore choose which traits are passed on to the next generation.

In summary, while both natural and artificial selection result in changes in species over time, the key difference lies in the driving force behind the selection process. Natural selection is driven by environmental factors and survival of the fittest, while artificial selection is driven by human preference and intervention.