Selection pressure
Selection pressure
Selection pressure (pronunciation: /sɪˈlɛkʃən ˈprɛʃər/) is a term used in evolutionary biology to describe any phenomena which alter the behavior and fitness of living organisms within a given environment. It is one of the primary mechanisms of evolution.
Etymology
The term "selection pressure" is derived from the concept of natural selection, first proposed by Charles Darwin in his 1859 book, On the Origin of Species. The word "pressure" is used metaphorically to describe the intensity of the environmental factors that influence the survival and reproduction of species.
Definition
Selection pressure can be understood as the influence exerted by the environment on organism survival and reproduction. It can be caused by factors such as predation, disease, and competition for resources like food and mates. These pressures can lead to genetic drift, mutation, and changes in gene frequency, which can result in a new species over time.
Related Terms
- Adaptive evolution: The process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment due to selection pressure.
- Fitness (biology): An organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.
- Genetic drift: Variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population.
- Mutation: Changes in the DNA sequence of a cell's genome.
- Natural selection: The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Selection pressure
- Wikipedia's article - Selection pressure
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