Question

Which among the following statements is a part of Darwin's theory of evolution on the basis of natural selection?

• A. Acquired characteristics that are inherited are the driving force of evolution
• B. Clutch size or number of offspring is not related to fitness
• C. There is high chance of survival if more offspring are produced
• D. Nature always selects the largest and strongest

Answer 1

The correct option is C There is high chance of survival if more offspring are produced

The mechanism that Darwin proposed along with Wallace for evolution is Natural selection. Organisms with heritable traits that favour survival and reproduction will tend to leave more offspring. Nature selects the fittest, fitness is the ability to adapt and procreate more.

Due to the limited resources, there is a struggle for existence among individuals, so often only a fraction of offspring survive to reproduce successfully; so more offspring production leads to high chance of survival of offspring with successful reproduction.

Natural selection is not specific or a predetermined mechanism of evolution, it is a random process. It is not selected on the basis of external factors, fitness is based on the characteristics which are inherited.