[Campbell Biology P.1210] Which of the following is not required for a behavioral trait to ev... | Practice Question

Which of the following is not required for a behavioral trait to evolve by natural selection?

  • A: In each individual, the form of the behavior is determined entirely by genes.
  • B: The behavior varies among individuals.
  • C: An individual's reproductive success depends in part on how the behavior is performed.
  • D: Some component of the behavior is genetically inherited.

Explanation

For natural selection to act on a behavioral trait, three conditions are necessary: 1 variation in the behavior among individuals, 2 this variation leads to differences in reproductive success, and 3 at least some component of this variation is heritable genetically inherited . It is not required that the behavior be entirely determined by genes; gene-environment interactions are common and still allow for evolution.