Charles Darwin proposed a mechanism for descent with modification which stated that organisms of a particular species are adapted to their environment when they possess
A)non-inheritable traits that enhance their survival in the local environment.
B)non-inheritable traits that enhance their reproductive success in the local environment.
C)non-inheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment.
D)inheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment.
E)inheritable traits that decrease their survival and reproductive success in the local environment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Charles Darwin's mechanism for descent with modification, organisms of a particular species are adapted to their environment when they possess inheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the local environment. Inheritable traits are those that can be passed on from one generation to the next, and it is through the accumulation of favorable inheritable traits that populations evolve over time. Non-inheritable traits do not contribute to evolution since they do not get passed on to the offspring. Therefore, only inheritable traits can lead to the development of adaptations that increase fitness in a given environment.

Charles Darwin Proposed a Mechanism for Descent with Modification Which