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Multiple Choice
In terms of natural selection, which of the following best explains why certain traits become more common in a population over generations?
A
Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to their offspring.
B
Random chance alone determines which traits become more common, without any influence from the environment.
C
All traits in a population are equally likely to be inherited, regardless of their effect on survival.
D
Traits that are acquired during an organism's lifetime are directly inherited by the next generation.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the concept of natural selection. Natural selection is a process where individuals with traits that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to pass those traits to their offspring. This leads to those advantageous traits becoming more common in the population over generations.
Step 2: Evaluate the first option: 'Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to their offspring.' This aligns with the principle of natural selection, as advantageous traits increase an organism's fitness and are inherited by the next generation.
Step 3: Analyze the second option: 'Random chance alone determines which traits become more common, without any influence from the environment.' This is incorrect because natural selection is not random; it is influenced by environmental pressures that favor certain traits over others.
Step 4: Examine the third option: 'All traits in a population are equally likely to be inherited, regardless of their effect on survival.' This is incorrect because traits that negatively impact survival or reproduction are less likely to be passed on, while advantageous traits are more likely to be inherited.
Step 5: Review the fourth option: 'Traits that are acquired during an organism's lifetime are directly inherited by the next generation.' This is incorrect because acquired traits (e.g., learned behaviors or physical changes due to environment) are not encoded in an organism's DNA and therefore cannot be inherited genetically.