evolutionary mechanisms

Evolutionary mechanisms are processes that change species over time. Natural selection occurs when traits that help survival and reproduction become more common because those individuals are more likely to pass them on. Genetic drift involves random changes in traits in small populations, which can lead to differences over generations. Mutation introduces new genetic variations by mistakes in DNA. Gene flow happens when individuals move between populations, exchanging genes. Together, these mechanisms drive the diversity and adaptation of species, shaping life’s evolution in response to environmental changes.