Question

Which of the following is not a fact or inference of natural selection?

Options

• There is heritable variation among individuals.

• Production of offspring is matched to the abundance of essential resources.

• Since only a fraction of offspring survive, there is a struggle for limited resources.

• Individuals whose inherited characteristics best fit them to the environment will leave more offspring.

Answer 1

Production of offspring is matched to the abundance of essential resources.

Explanation:

The facts or inferences of natural selection include:

• There is heritable variation among individuals,
• Since only a fraction of offspring survive, there is a struggle for limited resources,
• Individuals whose inherited characteristics best fit them to the environment will leave more offspring.

However, the production of offspring being matched to the abundance of essential resources is not a fact or inference of natural selection. Instead, organisms typically produce far more offspring than the environment can support, leading to competition and struggle for survival, which is fundamental for natural selection to operate.