Natural Selection – Do You Know What It Is?

We have all studied or at least heard of Darwin’s theory of evolution.  But do we really understand what evolution means? If we ask the majority of the population about evolution, we will probably come across answers such as “It is the theory that humans are descended from apes”, “It is the survival of the strongest”, “Natural selection is for animals and technology allows us to avoid it ”, or“ Evolution is when species are constantly adapting or evolving ”.

The statements above are full of errors that show us that few people really understand natural selection in depth. The central idea of ​​Darwinism is that the species that adapt to the environment survive, and those that do not disappear. But what does “adaptation” mean? It refers to the ability of a species in a particular ecosystem to reproduce and ensure the survival of offspring.

Many myths and errors have arisen from the misinterpretation of this central idea. In this article, we consider the most common ones. We talk about and contrast: (a) natural selection as a linear process, (b) differential adaptation of species, and (c) natural selection as a struggle against everything.

Natural selection as a linear process

One of the most recurring misconceptions is to see Darwinism as a linear evolution of a species,  as if the species change from generation to generation. Evolution does not work this way. This error can distract us from learning about the evolution of man as a variety of hominids.

When it comes to understanding natural selection, using a strainer as a metaphor is more appropriate. Many stones are thrown on the sieve, but only those with the correct shape are selected. The rest is discarded. And then, in time, these stones as well as new stones are thrown into another sieve, where they are chosen again. And in this way, in a sifted continuum, some stones last longer and others disappear.

Humans, along with all other living beings, play the role of the stones that came through the sieve. Those who do not adapt to the changed context will disappear or have to move to a new environment. And during this process, the species mutates and changes. An important nuance is that the context varies with time. A species or individual that has adapted in the past cannot adapt in the future, and vice versa.

The differential adaptation of a species

One of the most widespread and misunderstood ideas is: “Man is the most adapted animal on earth” and “We are at the top of the evolutionary pyramid”. If we look at the definition of adaptation, we see that it consists of surviving and having offspring that survive. In short, adaptation means maintaining the existence of the species. In addition,  we can deduce that all species that exist today have also adapted. This is because you either exist or you do not exist.

In light of this, many will refer to man’s great achievements or their high intellectual capacity to distinguish them from other living things. Just as the cat used its claws to survive, humans used their intellect. Each species has different qualities that allow them to survive.

It is true that humans have built complex societies to achieve this, while a bacterium only does so with its resilience and high reproductive capacity. But we can think of people as students who struggle to pass a class, while bacteria are the students who read the day they have the test and pass. In the end, the result is the same for both.

Natural selection as a battle against all

Finally, we will talk about the myth of seeing natural selection as a struggle for existence or as survival for the strongest. Do not forget that  those who survive are those who adapt to their environment. If the context favors those who attack, they will survive. But if the context favors those who flee, they will be the ones who adapt.

Hobbes said that “man is a wolf against man”. He believed that humans are ruthless and selfish by nature, competing with other humans. However, it is only necessary to review the principles of natural selection and observe nature to understand that this is meaningless. Humans and the vast majority of species have been able to survive thanks to their mutual support.

The ability to live in cooperating societies or herds provides a better response to environmental challenges. However, this does not mean that  violence  and competition do not exist. In many situations, this has been shown to be an adaptive behavior. But we must remember that the matches are not the main character in the natural selection. Both combat and mutual support are simply part of the species’ repertoire to meet their environment and the difficulties it can pose.