Question

What is the smallest biological unit that can evolve?

Answer 1

Population :

1. A population is a group of organisms of the same species that are found and share common geographic area and can interbreed .
2. According to Darwin, evolution happens through natural selection which is a distinctive success in reproduction and adaptation of the individual to their environment.
3. Natural selection is the process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change according to their environment.
4. Individuals in a population are naturally variable and different in some traits.
5. This variation means that some individuals have traits better suited to the environment than others.
6. Individuals with adaptive traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.
7. These adaptive traits then pass on to next generation.
8. Over time, these advantageous traits become more common in the population.
9. Thus, the smallest unit that can evolve through natural selection is the population.