Question

darwin hypothesized that there are definite steps to natural selection. consider the model of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. how would darwin explain step 1? a bacteria adapt to environmental changes. b in any population, genetic variation exists. c in any population, some individuals are weaker than others. d some bacteria alter their dna in a response to environmental changes. e

Explanation:

Darwin's natural selection starts with genetic variation in a population. For bacterial antibiotic resistance, Step 1 must be the pre-existing genetic variation (some bacteria have resistance genes randomly via mutation before antibiotic exposure). Option B aligns with this foundational step.

Answer:

B. In any population, genetic variation exists.