Question

In order to increase its population through natural selection, an allele should have one of the following features.

• A. Individuals with the allele are better able to find food.
• B. Individuals with the allele are better able to resist disease.
• C. Individuals with the allele have an increased ability to find and retain mates.
• D. Individuals with the allele produce more offspring that reach adulthood.
• E. Individuals with the allele have a longer lifespan than those without it.

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Individuals with the allele produce more offspring that reach adulthood.

A trait is favored by natural selection when it imparts reproductive fitness to the population. Reproductive fitness refers to ability of organisms to pass traits to offspring. This makes option D correct as individual with allele that enable it to produce fertile and viable offspring is favored by natural selection.