Question

How does the study of genetics explain the process of natural selection?

Answer 1

Genetics:

1. Genetics is the study of inheritance and variations in hereditary characters.
2. Inheritance includes the study of the similarities between parents and offspring.

Natural selection:

1. The concept of natural selection was given by Charles Darwin.
2. According to this theory, only those individuals who have traits that are better suited to adapt and thrive in their environmental conditions will survive or will be selected by nature.
3. Natural selection acts on the phenotype (visible characters) of an organism. Phenotype is affected by both genes (hereditary units) and the environment.
4. Moreover, only upon survival, the advantageous genes from the parents are passed onto the offspring.
5. Therefore, the study of genetics explains the process of natural selection.