Natural selection and genetics are fundamentally connected in the process of evolution. Natural selection is the mechanism through which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. These traits are inherited from their parents and are determined by genetics. This means that the genetic variations present in a population play a crucial role in determining how well suited those individuals are to their environment.
To break it down, genetics provides the variation within a population. These variations arise through mutations, genetic recombination, and gene flow. When an environmental change occurs, the individuals with genetic traits that confer advantages in that new environment are more likely to survive. Over time, these advantageous traits become more common in the population, leading to evolutionary change.
In summary, genetics is the source of the diversity that natural selection acts upon, and this interplay drives the evolution of species, shaping their adaptations to the environment.