How is natural selection described?

Natural selection is defined as a process where organisms that are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully than those that are less well adapted. This means that advantageous traits are more likely to be passed on to the next generation. Over time, this can lead to changes in the characteristics of a population, as beneficial traits become more common while less beneficial traits may diminish.

The concept of natural selection explains how species evolve and adapt to their environments in response to various pressures, such as predators, climate changes, and resource availability. This process is not random; rather, it is based on the differential survival and reproduction of organisms due to their characteristics, which are often inherited.

The other choices do not accurately represent the fundamental concept of natural selection. While extinction, human involvement in breeding, and random mutations are related concepts, they do not encapsulate the core idea of natural selection, which focuses on the survival and reproductive success of well-adapted organisms within a specific environment.