Which phrase best defines evolution by natural selection?

• A. The movement of individuals and their genes from one population to another.
• B. The process by which individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully, leading to changes in the population over time.
• C. The random change in allele frequencies in a population due to chance events.
• D. The inheritance of acquired characteristics during an organism's lifetime.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of evolution by natural selection. It is a process where individuals with traits that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to pass on these traits to the next generation, leading to changes in the population over time.
2. Step 2: Analyze the provided options. Identify which option aligns with the definition of natural selection. For example, consider whether the option describes survival and reproduction based on advantageous traits.
3. Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options. For instance, 'The movement of individuals and their genes from one population to another' describes gene flow, not natural selection. Similarly, 'The random change in allele frequencies in a population due to chance events' refers to genetic drift, and 'The inheritance of acquired characteristics during an organism's lifetime' is a concept proposed by Lamarck, which is not supported by modern evolutionary biology.
4. Step 4: Focus on the option that describes the process of individuals with advantageous traits surviving and reproducing more successfully, leading to population changes over time. This aligns with the definition of natural selection.
5. Step 5: Confirm your understanding by reviewing the key principles of natural selection: variation in traits, differential survival and reproduction, and heritability of advantageous traits. This ensures the selected answer is consistent with the concept.