Every year, the dubious posthumous honour of the Darwin Award is bestowed on people who "improve the human gene pool by accidentally killing themselves in really stupid ways." In 2002, for example, a man used a chainsaw to open a grenade because he wanted to make firecrackers; instead, the grenade exploded. To which of Darwin's principles are the Darwin Awards in homage?
A)natural selection
B)adaptation
C)evolutionary noise
D)mutation
E)polygenic transmission

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Darwin Awards humorously honor individuals who remove themselves from the gene pool in foolish ways, thereby indirectly referencing the principle of natural selection. This principle, a key mechanism of evolution, suggests that traits beneficial for survival and reproduction are more likely to be passed on to subsequent generations. The awards play on this concept by suggesting that those who engage in fatally foolish behavior are less likely to contribute their genes to future generations.

Every Year, the Dubious Posthumous Honour of the Darwin Award