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Natural selection works via a simple mechanism: certain organisms, though mutation, will be better-equipped for survival than others of their species. Over time, the better-adapted organisms will have a higher survival rate and, through interbreeding and simply outliving the competition, will eventually replace them.

If there was no variation (mutation) in the population, there would be no better-adapted individuals, and no change. This has been the case with some species. Alligators, for example, have been around virtually unchanged (except for size) for nearly 100 million years. They are well-adapted adapted for survival in their environment as it is, and thus there is really no need for improvements that would lead to major evolutionary change.

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Zackery Schumm

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Why are variations in a species needed for natural selection to occur?

Variations in a species are needed for natural selection to occur because they provide the raw material for evolutionary change. Without variation, there would be no differences for natural selection to act upon, and individuals within a species would be identical. Variations allow some individuals to be better adapted to their environment, giving them a higher chance of survival and reproduction, thus driving the process of natural selection.


Why must there be genetic variation in order for natural selection to occur?

Genetic variation is necessary for natural selection to occur because it provides different traits and characteristics within a population. These variations create diversity, allowing some individuals to have traits that are more advantageous for survival and reproduction in certain environments. Without genetic variation, there would be no differences in traits to be selected for or against, and natural selection would not be possible.


Which is not a cause of evolutionary in organasims?

Evolution does not occur as a response to the needs of the organism. It is not driven by individual organisms adapting to their environment, but by the process of natural selection acting on variations within a population over time.


What characteristic within populations causes natral selection to occur?

Variations within populations is what natural selection is " looking " for. That one variant of a population is somewhat better able to survive and reproduce than other variants against the backdrop of the immediate environment is natural selection.


Minor changes can occur over a few generations the changes produced variations in population this relates to what?

This phenomenon relates to the process of evolution by natural selection, where favorable variations that help individuals survive and reproduce become more common in a population over generations. These minor changes accumulate and can lead to significant adaptations in a population over time.

Related Questions

Why variations are important in human life?

Variations are the basis of evolution, but variations within a population create diversity, which is useful to slow disease and allow natural selection to occur.


What characteristics must population first have for nautral selection to occur?

Individuals are selected, but in the population of organisms there are many variations, some better at survival and reproduction than others, and against the immediate environment, what natural selection really is, these beneficial variations will be selected.


Natural selection cannot occur without what?

Variations within a population. Variations mean traits that only certain individuals have that give the individual a greater or lesser chance of reproducing.


Why would natural selection not occur in this poplutation?

What population? Perhaps you mean if there were no variation for natural selection to select from.


Can natural selection occur without variation in a population?

no there is no genetic variation for natural selection to act upon


Why are variations in a species needed for natural selection to occur?

Variations in a species are needed for natural selection to occur because they provide the raw material for evolutionary change. Without variation, there would be no differences for natural selection to act upon, and individuals within a species would be identical. Variations allow some individuals to be better adapted to their environment, giving them a higher chance of survival and reproduction, thus driving the process of natural selection.


Why must there be genetic variation in order for natural selection to occur?

Genetic variation is necessary for natural selection to occur because it provides different traits and characteristics within a population. These variations create diversity, allowing some individuals to have traits that are more advantageous for survival and reproduction in certain environments. Without genetic variation, there would be no differences in traits to be selected for or against, and natural selection would not be possible.


Which is not a cause of evolutionary in organasims?

Evolution does not occur as a response to the needs of the organism. It is not driven by individual organisms adapting to their environment, but by the process of natural selection acting on variations within a population over time.


What requires natural selection to occur in a population?

Natural selection requires variation in traits within a population, heritability of those traits, and differential reproductive success based on those traits. Without these components, natural selection cannot act on a population.


What characteristic within populations causes natral selection to occur?

Variations within populations is what natural selection is " looking " for. That one variant of a population is somewhat better able to survive and reproduce than other variants against the backdrop of the immediate environment is natural selection.


What must occur for the gene pool within population to change?

natural selection or genetic drift


Minor changes can occur over a few generations the changes produced variations in population this relates to what?

This phenomenon relates to the process of evolution by natural selection, where favorable variations that help individuals survive and reproduce become more common in a population over generations. These minor changes accumulate and can lead to significant adaptations in a population over time.