Question

during the 19th - century, charles darwin studied the beaks of finches found on the galapagos islands. his work inspired 20th - century researchers peter and rosemary grant to conduct a study on beak sizes of two species of finches. the grants found that, during a severe drought, the larger birds with more powerful beaks were more likely to survive. the grants work revealed that natural selection favored:
a. the most unfit members of a population, causing advantageous traits to spread throughout a population.
b. only the members of a population with disadvantageous traits, causing harmful traits to be spread among all members of a population.
c. all members of a population, causing advantageous traits to be spread equally among all members of a different population.
d. the fittest members of a population, causing advantageous traits to be spread throughout a population.

Explanation:

Natural selection acts on the fittest members of a population. The fittest are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on advantageous traits throughout the population. Darwin's finch - study and the Grants' work support this.

Answer:

D. the fittest members of a population, causing advantageous traits to spread throughout a population.