Which of the following best describes natural selection?
A) It is the idea that organisms with genetic traits that improve their ability to reproduce are more likely to pass those traits on to future generations.
B) It is the idea that the strong survive and the weak die off.
C) It is a guess made by scientists about how life develops, but it has no hard evidence to support it.
D) It is the idea that organisms naturally increase in complexity and intelligence with time.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Natural selection is the process by which organisms with favorable genetic traits that increase their chances of survival and reproduction in a particular environment are more likely to pass on those traits to their offspring. Over time, this can lead to changes in the frequency of certain traits within a population and can result in evolution. Option B is incorrect because natural selection is not simply about survival of the strongest; rather, it is a more nuanced process that takes into account how well an organism is adapted to its environment. Option C is incorrect because natural selection is a well-established scientific theory that is supported by a large body of evidence. Option D is incorrect because natural selection does not necessarily result in organisms increasing in complexity or intelligence; rather, it simply leads to those traits that increase an organism’s fitness becoming more prevalent in a population over time.

Which of the Following Best Describes Natural Selection