In order for traits to evolve by natural selection, individuals must experience differential reproductive success. This means that
A) individuals differ in the types of mutations that they carry.
B) some individuals are more likely to have a certain trait than others.
C) the number of individuals in a population that are successful at surviving and reproducing increases over time.
D) individuals with certain traits are more successful than others in the population at surviving and reproducing.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For traits to evolve by natural selection, individuals with certain traits must be more successful at surviving and reproducing than others in the population. This leads to those traits becoming more common in the population over time. Options A and B are about differences between individuals, but do not specifically address reproductive success. Option C talks about an increase in the number of successful individuals in a population, but does not address the role of traits in that success.

In Order for Traits to Evolve by Natural Selection, Individuals