Darwinian evolution states _____.

• A. that all traits acquired during an organism's lifetime are inherited by its offspring
• B. that individuals evolve new traits in response to environmental changes within their lifetime
• C. that species evolve over time through natural selection acting on heritable variation
• D. that evolution occurs only through random genetic drift without any selection

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of Darwinian evolution: It is the theory proposed by Charles Darwin that explains how species evolve over time through the process of natural selection acting on heritable traits.
2. Clarify the key principle of natural selection: Natural selection is the process where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to the next generation.
3. Eliminate incorrect options: Traits acquired during an organism's lifetime (e.g., learned behaviors or physical changes due to environment) are not heritable and cannot be passed to offspring. This eliminates the first option.
4. Evaluate the second option: Individuals do not evolve new traits within their lifetime in response to environmental changes. Evolution occurs at the population level over generations, not within an individual's lifetime. This eliminates the second option.
5. Consider the correct answer: Darwinian evolution emphasizes that species evolve over time through natural selection acting on heritable variation. Random genetic drift can also contribute to evolution, but it is not the sole mechanism, which eliminates the last option.