Which of the following is an observation or inference on which natural selection is based? (A) Individuals do not vary in their heritable characteristics. (B) Only well-adapted individuals produce offspring. (C) Species produce more offspring than the environment can support. (D) Nearly all of each individual's offspring will survive and reproduce.

Question

Accepted Answer

Welcome back. Let's look at our next question which of the following observations is not based on natural selection. So let's think briefly from our content videos about natural selection it involves environmental environ spell today, pressures that advantage or disadvantage mutations that arise. So we have a genetic mutation that mutation allows the individual to be better adapted to their environment or worse adapted their better adapted. They're more likely to survive reproduce and pass that particular mutation to their offspring. So it affects the genome of a population based on environmental pressures. Now we'll look now at our answers, remembering that we want to look at not necessarily what's false but what is not based in natural selection. So it could be a true response. But if it doesn't have to do with natural selection that's what we're looking for. So let's go through here. We have choice A individuals that have adaptive traits are more likely to survive. So yes this is part of natural selection but little N. S. Here. Um Because yes if they're more adapted to their environment, if a trait makes them better adapted they'll be more likely to survive in that environment. And that is part of the process of natural selection. So choice A. Is not our answer choice B. Says the surviving individuals passed their adaptive traits to their offspring. So yes this is how natural selection operates the individuals that survive survive to reproduce and the adaptive trait is passed on in their offspring when they reproduce. So that is part of natural selection and not our answer choice C. Says inbred offspring will have some genetic mutations. Well that is correct. So inbred offspring are ones where you have, you know, close breeding and mating and reproducing up close relatives. Um And yes, inbred offspring will have increased homocide gossipy and that will lead to mutagenic changes. They will have some genetic mutations. Um But that mutation is not causing or not part of this environmental force, It's not environmental force affecting the changes in the inbred offspring. So it's the increased homocide gossipy that's causing it. So this process is not part of natural selection and therefore answer C is our correct answer. Finally, to be thorough, we look down at choice D advantageous traits become more common in the population and yes, this is part of natural selection. As the individuals with those advantageous traits are more likely to reproduce, pass them on as that happens over generations, those advantageous traits will become more common. So Choice D. Not our answer. So again, which is not based on natural selection choice? See, inbred offspring will have some genetic mutations. See you in the next video

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Key Concepts

Natural Selection

Variation and Heritability

Overproduction of Offspring