Which statement best describes the relationship between adaptations and extinctions in the context of natural selection?

• A. Adaptations increase an organism's chances of survival, while lack of suitable adaptations can lead to extinction.
• B. Adaptations always cause extinction by making organisms less fit for their environment.
• C. Adaptations and extinctions are unrelated processes in evolution.
• D. Extinction leads to adaptations in surviving species by directly altering their genetic material.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of natural selection: Natural selection is the process by which organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, these advantageous traits (adaptations) become more common in the population.
2. Define adaptations: Adaptations are inherited traits that improve an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment. These can be structural, behavioral, or physiological traits.
3. Explain the role of adaptations in survival: Organisms with beneficial adaptations are more likely to survive environmental pressures, such as changes in climate, availability of resources, or predation, and pass on their genes to the next generation.
4. Discuss the relationship between lack of adaptations and extinction: If a species lacks suitable adaptations to cope with environmental changes, it may fail to survive and reproduce, leading to a decline in population size and potentially extinction.
5. Clarify why the correct statement aligns with natural selection: The correct statement highlights that adaptations increase survival chances, while the absence of suitable adaptations can lead to extinction. This aligns with the principles of natural selection, where survival depends on the ability to adapt to environmental changes.