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Multiple Choice
Which of the following would least likely be a cause of natural selection?
A
Random mating within a population
B
Environmental changes affecting survival
C
Predation pressure on certain phenotypes
D
Competition for limited resources
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of natural selection: Natural selection is the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population due to their impact on survival and reproduction. Traits that confer advantages in a given environment are more likely to be passed on to future generations.
Analyze each option in the context of natural selection: Environmental changes, predation pressure, and competition for resources all create selective pressures that can favor certain traits over others, driving natural selection.
Consider the role of random mating: Random mating does not create selective pressure because it does not favor specific traits. It ensures genetic variation but does not directly influence which traits are advantageous or disadvantageous.
Compare random mating to the other options: Environmental changes, predation pressure, and competition for resources actively influence survival and reproduction, whereas random mating does not exert selective pressure on phenotypes.
Conclude that random mating is least likely to be a cause of natural selection because it does not create conditions that favor certain traits over others, unlike the other options listed.