Which process drives Darwin's theory of evolution by explaining how heritable traits that increase reproductive success become more common in a population over generations?

• A. Acquired inheritance (Lamarckism)
• B. Genetic drift
• C. Artificial selection
• D. Natural selection

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Darwin's theory of evolution is primarily explained by the process called natural selection.
2. Recognize that natural selection involves heritable traits that increase an organism's reproductive success becoming more common in a population over generations.
3. Differentiate natural selection from other processes: acquired inheritance (Lamarckism) suggests traits acquired during life are inherited, which is not supported by modern genetics; genetic drift is a random change in allele frequencies; artificial selection is human-directed breeding.
4. Focus on how natural selection acts on variation within a population, where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.
5. Summarize that natural selection is the mechanism by which evolution occurs, as it explains the increase in frequency of beneficial heritable traits over time.