Question

How can the long neck of giraffe be explained through the principle of natural selection?

Answer 1

1. Giraffe ancestors had variations in neck length.
2. Due to scarcity of food, giraffes with longer necks could reach leaves on tall trees more easily.
3. Long-necked giraffes were therefore better adapted and had a greater chance of survival.
4. They reproduced more successfully and passed the favourable variation to their offspring.
5. Over many generations, natural selection resulted in the evolution of the long neck of modern giraffes.