It's helpful to think of natural selection as a process with several interacting components, rather than a list of strict principles. Here are 5 key aspects that contribute to its workings:

1. Variation: Individuals within a population exhibit variations in traits. These variations can be in physical characteristics, behaviors, or even in the molecules that make up their bodies.

2. Inheritance: These variations are, at least partially, heritable. Meaning, offspring tend to resemble their parents in these traits.

3. Overproduction: Organisms produce more offspring than the environment can sustainably support. This leads to competition for resources.

4. Differential Survival and Reproduction: Individuals with traits that make them better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. Those with less favorable traits are less likely to survive or reproduce.

5. Adaptation: Over time, the frequency of advantageous traits in a population increases. This is because individuals with these traits are more successful at passing them on to the next generation. This leads to the adaptation of populations to their environment.

It's important to note:

* Natural selection is not a goal-oriented process. It doesn't have a "plan" or "desire" to create perfect organisms. It simply selects for the traits that are most beneficial in a given environment at a given time.

* Natural selection acts on individuals, but its effects are seen in populations. An individual doesn't evolve, but a population can change over generations.

Let me know if you'd like me to elaborate on any of these points!