Multiple choice

What is the difference between genetic drift and change due to natural selection?

  1. Genetic drift does not require the presence of variation.

  2. Genetic drift does not involve the competition between members of a species.

  3. Genetic drift never occurs in nature, natural selection does.

  4. There is no difference between these two.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The key difference is that genetic drift is random change in allele frequencies unrelated to fitness advantages, while natural selection involves differential survival based on competitive advantages. Genetic drift occurs through chance events (bottlenecks, founder effects) without requiring competition between organisms. Natural selection specifically requires competition where advantageous traits are favored.

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