Natural selection
A) works directly on the genotype of an organism.
B) always favors average individuals in a population.
C) acts on the phenotype of an organism.
D) is unrelated to reproduction of an organism.
E) is influenced by the number of offspring.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Natural selection acts on the phenotype of an organism, meaning the observable physical and behavioral traits of an individual. It is the phenotype that interacts with the environment and determines an organism's ability to survive and reproduce. The genotype, although important, is not directly acted upon by natural selection. Natural selection does not always favor average individuals, as it depends on the specific selective pressures in a given environment. Reproduction is a key component of natural selection, as the traits that lead to greater reproductive success will be passed on to future generations. Therefore, it is influenced by the number of offspring an organism produces.

Natural Selection