Fitness that an individual gains by passing on copies of its genes to its offspring is favored by _____ selection.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Direct selection refers to the selection pressure that acts directly on an individual's phenotype, increasing their fitness by enhancing their ability to survive and reproduce. Passing on one's genes to one's offspring directly enhances an individual's reproductive success, making direct selection the appropriate answer. Indirect selection is selection that acts on traits that are correlated with the traits that determine an individual's fitness. Natural selection is the process by which individuals with certain heritable traits tend to survive and reproduce more than others, while sexual selection occurs when individuals with certain traits are more successful at attracting mates and reproducing. While sexual selection may indirectly affect an individual's fitness by increasing their chances of mating, it is not directly related to the passing on of genes to offspring.

Fitness That an Individual Gains by Passing on Copies of Its