Which of the following best describes natural selection?

Natural selection is best described as a non-random process that favors certain traits within a population. This concept is central to the theory of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin. In natural selection, individuals with traits that confer an advantage in a particular environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. As a result, these beneficial traits are passed on to future generations, leading to changes in the population over time.

This process is not random; rather, it is influenced by environmental pressures and competition for resources. It works on the existing variation within a population, selecting for advantageous traits while inadvertently selecting against those that are less beneficial. This dynamic results in populations that are better adapted to their environments.

In contrast to the other options, natural selection is not random and does not lead directly to species extinction without additional factors. It is not a deliberate process orchestrated by individual organisms, but rather an outcome of interactions between organisms and their environment. Additionally, natural selection plays a key role in enhancing genetic diversity within populations, as it acts on varying traits and selections can create new variations.