[Campbell Biology P.525] Which of the following statements accurately reflects a subtle but ... | Practice Question

Which of the following statements accurately reflects a subtle but important point about natural selection, as described in the text?

  • A: Individuals evolve in response to environmental changes over their lifetime.
  • B: Natural selection acts on populations, but only on heritable traits that exhibit variation among individuals.
  • C: All heritable traits, regardless of their variation in a population, can be amplified or diminished by natural selection.
  • D: Environmental factors are constant, ensuring that a favorable trait in one place remains favorable everywhere.

Explanation

The text explains two crucial subtle points: 1 'individuals do not evolve. Rather, it is the population that evolves over time.' and 2 natural selection can only act on 'heritable traits that differ among the individuals in a population.' Option B correctly combines these two ideas, stating that natural selection acts on populations and requires variation in heritable traits.