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Multiple Choice
What effect does natural selection have on the allele frequency of a population?
A
It decreases genetic variation by eliminating all recessive alleles.
B
It increases the frequency of alleles that confer a selective advantage.
C
It randomly changes allele frequencies without regard to fitness.
D
It causes all allele frequencies to remain constant over time.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of natural selection: Natural selection is a process where individuals with traits that confer a selective advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those advantageous traits (and their associated alleles) to the next generation.
Analyze the effect of natural selection on allele frequency: Natural selection increases the frequency of alleles that provide a selective advantage because individuals with these alleles are more likely to reproduce successfully.
Clarify why genetic variation is not eliminated: Natural selection does not eliminate all recessive alleles. Recessive alleles can persist in a population, especially if they are carried by heterozygous individuals who do not express the recessive trait.
Explain why allele frequencies do not remain constant: Natural selection causes allele frequencies to change over time, favoring alleles that improve fitness and reducing the frequency of alleles that are disadvantageous.
Address the randomness misconception: Natural selection is not random. It is a non-random process driven by differential survival and reproduction based on fitness, unlike genetic drift, which is random.