Mechanism
The underlying process or causal chain that explains *how* something works, not just *what* happens. In biology, mechanisms explain phenomena at the molecular, cellular, or system level through testable cause-and-effect relationships.
Biological Context
Unlike correlations or descriptions, mechanisms explain causation. For example, 'natural selection' isn't just an observation that traits change—it's a mechanism with specific components: variation, heritability, and differential reproduction. Understanding mechanisms allows prediction and intervention. Biology has identified hundreds of mechanisms governing everything from cell division to ecosystem dynamics.
Business Application
Business advice often offers maxims ('move fast and break things') without explaining the mechanism behind success or failure. Mechanisms are more powerful because they transfer across contexts. Once you understand *why* something works—the causal chain—you can apply it to situations the original author never imagined. See the [full collection of biological mechanisms](/mechanisms/) that drive both living systems and organizations.