# Natural Variation > **Machine-Evolution Nexus:** [[articles/Digital Darwinism and the Invisible World of Machine Evolution|Digital Darwinism and the Invisible World of Machine Evolution]] provides the evolutionary and computational context for this supporting concept. **Domain:** Evolution / Population Biology **Doc Type:** Supporting Canonical Node **Maturity:** Developed ## Definition Natural variation is the diversity of inherited and acquired traits found within and among biological populations. ## Nexus Context It supplies material for selection but also reflects drift, migration, recombination, development and environment. Variation is not synonymous with defect or hierarchy. ## Relationships [[wiki/Variation|Variation]], [[wiki/Heritable Variation|Heritable Variation]], [[wiki/Population|Population]], [[wiki/Natural Selection|Natural Selection]] ## Sources / Provenance - Developed from the cited research in the central article and the surrounding continuity, rights and evolutionary architecture.