Question

The process by which heritable variations enabling better survival, enable an organism to reproduce and leave greater number of progeny is called

• A. Genetic drift
• B. Mutation
• C. Natural selection
• D. Founder effect

Answer 1

The correct option is C Natural selection

Any population has built in variation in characteristics. Those characteristics which enable some to survive better in natural conditions (climate, food, physical factors, etc.) would outbreed others that are less-endowed to survive under such natural conditions. Another word used is fitness of the individual or population. The fitness, according to Darwin, refers ultimately and only to reproductive fitness. Hence, those who are better fit in an environment, leave more progeny than others. These, therefore, will survive more and hence are selected by nature. Natural selection is thus, the process by which heritable variations enabling better survival, enable an organism to reproduce and leave greater number of progeny in a given environment.