Environmental factors can influence natural selection because they can increase or decrease
A. the number of chromosomes in an individual.
B. the number of chromosomes in a population.
C. the amount of genetic variation in an individual.
D. the amount of genetic variation in a population.
Answer (2)
Environmental factors influence natural selection by affecting the traits that increase or decrease an organism's survival and reproductive success. They do not change the number of chromosomes but rather impact genetic variation in a population. Therefore, the correct answer is D: the amount of genetic variation in a population.
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In the context of natural selection, environmental factors play a crucial role in determining which traits are favored in a population. This is because these factors can influence the survival and reproduction of individuals within that population.
Among the options provided, the correct answer is:
D. the amount of genetic variation in a population.
Here's why:
Environmental Factors: These include conditions like climate, food availability, presence of predators, diseases, and other ecological interactions. These factors can vary greatly depending on the environment and directly impact which individuals are better suited to survive and reproduce.
Genetic Variation: This refers to the differences in DNA among individuals of a population. Genetic variation is important because it provides a pool of traits that may offer advantages in changing environments.
Natural Selection Mechanism: If an environmental change occurs, such as a drop in temperature, individuals with genetic traits that provide better insulation, for instance, may survive better and reproduce more than those without such traits. Over time, these advantageous traits become more common in the population.
Population vs. Individual: While individuals carry the genetic information, it's at the population level that natural selection acts over generations. Environmental factors don't change the number of chromosomes or the genetic variation in a single individual, but they can influence which variants increase or decrease in frequency within a population.
In conclusion, environmental factors are instrumental in shaping the evolutionary trajectory of species by influencing genetic variation at the population level over time.
