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Indirectly, yes it does. But it can only act on genotypes through their phenotypes.

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Why does natural selection only work on phenotypes?

Natural selection is based on the environment and on the traits of organisms. Organisms with more suitable traits are more likely to survive until reproductive age, while organisms with less suitable traits are more likely to die before they can reproduce. Most of these traits are genetic traits. The phenotype is the set of all genetic traits. Natural selection is not determined by genotypes, because genotypes are merely an organism's genetic makeup. Only the dominant or somewhat dominant alleles in the genotype will also appear in the phenotype. However, genotypes still contribute to natural selection indirectly in that two alleles in two parents' genotypes which had not appeared in their phenotypes could be inherited such that they are in the phenotype of the offspring.


Why does the environment act on natural selection?

I know of no government that acts, in any direct or significant way, on natural selection.


Can natural selection occur without variation in a population?

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


How are phenotypes and genotypes related to natural selection?

Phenotypes are the physical characteristics resulting from an individual's genotype, which is their genetic makeup. Natural selection acts on phenotypes by favoring traits that confer a reproductive advantage, leading to the increased frequency of the corresponding genotypes in a population over time. This process drives the evolution of populations by selecting for genetic variations that enhance an individual's survival and reproductive success.


WHAT NATURAL SELECTION CAN ONLY ACT ON WHICH TRAITS?

Natural selection can only act on traits that have a genetic basis, meaning they are heritable and can be passed from one generation to the next. These traits must also affect an organism's fitness, influencing its ability to survive and reproduce in its environment. Additionally, natural selection operates on phenotypic traits, which are the observable characteristics resulting from the interaction of genetics and the environment. Traits that are not expressed or that do not impact survival and reproduction are not subject to natural selection.

Related Questions

Why does natural selection work on organisms phenotypes rather than their genotypes?

This is backward, natural selection works on genotype not phenotype.


Is it true or false that a natural selection acts on phenotypes not genotypes?

It doesn't. Phenotypes are viable or not in a given environment, and this influences whether the corresponding genotypes get passed on. Selection works on genotypes via the effects of their expression, their phenotype. The answer you may be looking for is that phenotypes maladapted to their environment have less babies, and pass on less copies of their genes. "Natural selection" is the whole process over generations. "Selection" may refer to misadapted bodies/phenotypes reproducing less due to illness, hunger, bad quality territories, dying earlier, etc.


Does natural selection act on the phenotype?

yes


Why does natural selection only work on phenotypes?

Natural selection is based on the environment and on the traits of organisms. Organisms with more suitable traits are more likely to survive until reproductive age, while organisms with less suitable traits are more likely to die before they can reproduce. Most of these traits are genetic traits. The phenotype is the set of all genetic traits. Natural selection is not determined by genotypes, because genotypes are merely an organism's genetic makeup. Only the dominant or somewhat dominant alleles in the genotype will also appear in the phenotype. However, genotypes still contribute to natural selection indirectly in that two alleles in two parents' genotypes which had not appeared in their phenotypes could be inherited such that they are in the phenotype of the offspring.


How is natural selection used in artificial selection?

Natural variation in artificial selection is used because humans choose from among the naturally occurring variation s in species. Natural selection is related to species fitness because Darwin called natural selection survival of the fittest because those that could survive would carry their species on there for being the naturally selected.


Why does the environment act on natural selection?

I know of no government that acts, in any direct or significant way, on natural selection.


Can natural selection occur without variation in a population?

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


What does natural selection only act on?

It acts on populations.


Why does natural selection act on the phenotype and not the genotype?

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How are phenotypes and genotypes related to natural selection?

Phenotypes are the physical characteristics resulting from an individual's genotype, which is their genetic makeup. Natural selection acts on phenotypes by favoring traits that confer a reproductive advantage, leading to the increased frequency of the corresponding genotypes in a population over time. This process drives the evolution of populations by selecting for genetic variations that enhance an individual's survival and reproductive success.


Is inheritance a requirement for natural selection?

Yes it does. Without variance in the organisms genome, that gives variance to the phenotype, there would be nothing for natural selection to select from.


Why is genetic variation important for natural selection to drive evolution?

Genetic variation is important for natural selection to drive evolution because it provides the raw material for natural selection to act upon. Without genetic variation, there would be no diversity in traits for natural selection to favor or eliminate, and evolution would not be possible.