Which of the following statements best describes the effect of natural selection on a population?

• A. Natural selection eliminates all genetic variation within a population.
• B. Natural selection causes all individuals in a population to become identical over time.
• C. Natural selection increases genetic diversity by introducing new mutations.
• D. Natural selection leads to the adaptation of a population to its environment by favoring advantageous traits.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of natural selection: Natural selection is a process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This concept was introduced by Charles Darwin.
2. Recognize the role of genetic variation: Genetic variation within a population is crucial for natural selection. It provides the raw material for evolution, allowing some individuals to have traits that are better suited to the environment.
3. Identify the effect of advantageous traits: Natural selection favors individuals with advantageous traits, meaning these traits become more common in the population over generations. This leads to adaptation to the environment.
4. Clarify the misconception about genetic variation: Natural selection does not eliminate genetic variation entirely. Instead, it acts on existing variation, and while it can reduce variation by favoring certain traits, it does not cause all individuals to become identical.
5. Understand the role of mutations: While natural selection itself does not introduce new mutations, mutations are a source of genetic variation that can be acted upon by natural selection, contributing to the evolutionary process.