Isn't true that natural selection is the opposite of evolution?

Question

Do organisms not lose genetic make up in natural selection, While they would have to gain genetic make up to evolve?

Answer 1

Basic Darwinian theory proposes
1. Variation (by mutation, recombination, etc.)
AND
2. Selection

The *combination* of these two drive evolution; without considering BOTH, you cannot understand long-term trends in evolution.

In the link below, note there are sections for "Mechanisms that Decrease Genetic Variation" and "Mechanisms that Increase Genetic Variation".

Answer 2

No, natural selection is the synonym of evolution. Organisms do not necessarily lose genetic make up. Typically a mutation is caused by any number of environmental factors such as the gene getting bombarded by a cosmic ray. This mutation normally will reduce an animals chance of surviving but every so often, it coincidentally adds or modifies a characteristic which is advantageous to an animal. It may be an extremely slight advantage but in terms of millions of years, a slight advantage will eventually dominate the gene pool. It is like Las Vegas, the house almost always wins, and advantageous characteristics also almost always win in the end

Answer 3

no, natural selection is a process by which evolution can happen. let's say that a population of deer is split up, one being in a more meadow environment and another being in a more wooded environment. It would be conceivable that in the wooded environment nature would select for deer with smaller antlers so they aren't caught in all the brush; whereas in the meadow there would be no reason to select for this. eventually both populations could evolve different characteristics that help them survive in their environment. Maybe the forest deer evolve (and are selected for) shorter legs to move more easily, whereas the meadow can have longer legs to outdistance predators. Natural Selection and evolution go hand in hand. There are randomly occuring mutations in every population, some which are selected for, causing evolution, and some which are not(those genes are then lost, but at some point they could recur due to random mutations).

Answer 4

Natural Selection is an important component to evolution. NS says that certain traits are favorable in an ever changing environment. The more variation of these traits a species has the more likely the species ( as a whole) will survive. Variation is caused by mutation.

Answer 5

If I understand you correctly you have hid something that Charles Darwin considered a major problem with his theory. He thought that inbreeding and natural selection would eventually eliminarte all genetic variation, and when we all have become inbred we would stop evolving.

He observed that whether one believes in his theory or not, one would expect genetic variation to disapear (this assertion was based on false assumptions but recall, Mendelian herritance only came after Darwin), so developping his theory he could assume that some unknown natural force re-introduced variation into the population.

Today we know that mutations generates variation with roughly the same speed as natural selection destroys it.

Answer 6

Who says they lose DNA in natural selection? That's not what natural selection is. Natural selection is just the basic mechanism for evolution, the process of unsuccessful patterns eliminating themselves and successful patterns surviving and reproducing. Over time this can either add DNA or remove it, whichever makes the organism more successful.

Answer 7

No. They are a part of each other. In natural selection the one best suited to the environment mates and this is what basically is behind evolution.

Answer 8

Quit listening to creationists. That lose/gain genetic information via mutation is a load of crap. Start reading what science has to say about the topic rather than creationists. They are ignorant or dishonest or both.

Check out the talk.origins FAQs for the REAL story.

Answer 9

That doesn't make any sense. If it is beneficial, chances are the trait will survive. etc etc.. I dont get what you are asking