Question
Which of the following are necessary for evolution by natural selection to take place?
1). Offspring resemble their parents more than other individuals in the population.
2). Differences among individuals exist and lead to different numbers of successful offspring being produced.
3). Individuals adjust their development depending on the environment.
4). Every individual has a desire to have many offspring.
5). Populations tend to grow faster than their food supplies.
Options
Solution
Sol.(a) [Key Concept: Natural Selection — Requirements (Variation & Heritability)] For natural selection to operate, two conditions are necessary: (1) Offspring must resemble their parents — traits must be heritable (inherited from parents); and (2) Differences among individuals must exist and lead to different numbers of successful offspring — differential reproductive success based on heritable variation. Individual desire (4) and individual development adjustments (3) are not requirements for natural selection.
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