Which statement is accurate about natural selection?(1 point)
Responses
Natural selection does not change the alleles an organism has.
Natural selection does not change the alleles an organism has.
Natural selection does not impact reproduction rates.
Natural selection does not impact reproduction rates.
Natural selection cannot occur through mutations.
Natural selection cannot occur through mutations.
Natural selection cannot inactivate genes.
Natural selection cannot inactivate genes.
The statement "Natural selection does not change the alleles an organism has" is accurate. Natural selection acts on existing genetic variations within a population, favoring traits that increase an organism's chances of survival and reproduction. This process can lead to changes in allele frequencies over time as those with advantageous traits are more likely to pass on their alleles to the next generation.
The accurate statement about natural selection is: "Natural selection cannot inactivate genes."
To arrive at this answer, we can analyze each statement and eliminate the incorrect ones step by step. Let's assess each option:
1. "Natural selection does not change the alleles an organism has." This statement is incorrect because natural selection can indeed change the frequencies of alleles in a population. Through differential survival and reproduction, organisms with advantageous alleles are more likely to pass those alleles on to the next generation, leading to changes in allele frequencies.
2. "Natural selection does not impact reproduction rates." This statement is also incorrect. Natural selection can have a significant impact on reproduction rates. Organisms with traits that enhance their ability to survive and reproduce are more likely to pass on their genes, increasing the frequency of those beneficial traits in subsequent generations.
3. "Natural selection cannot occur through mutations." This statement is incorrect. Mutations are a source of genetic variation, and natural selection acts on that variation. Mutations can introduce new alleles into a population, which can be subject to selection depending on their impact on an organism's survival and reproductive success.
Therefore, by process of elimination, the accurate statement is: "Natural selection cannot inactivate genes." This means that natural selection cannot directly turn off or silence specific genes within an organism's genome. While natural selection can lead to the reduction or elimination of certain traits or alleles if they are disadvantageous in a given environment, it does not directly inactivate genes.