Natural selection is one of the basic mechanisms of evolution, along with mutation, migration, and genetic drift. Darwin's grand idea of evolution by natural selection is relatively simple but often misunderstood.

Is evolution the same as natural selection?

Natural selection and evolution are the same thing. ... Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution, a process that leads to shifts in allele frequencies within a population. But natural selection is just one way—albeit a really powerful way—that such change can occur.

Is evolution natural selection or change over time?

Evolution is a process that results in changes in the genetic material of a population over time. An example of macroevolution is the evolution of a new species. ... One mechanism that drives evolution is natural selection, which is a process that increases the frequency of advantageous alleles in a population.