Question

1. which of the following is a key point in charles darwins theory of evolution?

marks : 1.00
a. biological structures that have become better suited to the environment by their constant use are most likely to be inherited.
c. slight variations among individuals significantly affect the chance that a given individual will survive in its environment and be able to reproduce.
b. mutations that occur are those that will help future generations fit into their environments.
d. genes change in order to help organisms cope with problems encountered within their environments

Explanation:

• Option A describes Lamarck's theory of acquired characteristics (use - disuse), not Darwin's.
• Option B: Mutations are random, and Darwin's theory didn't focus on mutations (the concept of genes/mutations was not well - developed in his time), and mutations don't occur with the purpose of helping future generations.
• Option C: Darwin's theory of natural selection emphasizes that variations among individuals exist, and those variations that are favorable for survival and reproduction in a given environment will be more likely to be passed on. This is a key point of his theory.
• Option D: Genes were not part of Darwin's understanding (the idea of genes came later), and organisms don't "choose" to change their genes to cope with environmental problems.

Answer:

C. Slight variations among individuals significantly affect the chance that a given individual will survive in its environment and be able to reproduce.