Question

directions: select all the correct answers. which of the following statements describes an example of natural selection acting on a population? a species of corn is genetically modified to produce a natural insecticide, resulting in an increased harvest. a farmer breeds a certain cow that produces large quantities of milk in order to produce more cows with the same trait. owls sleep during the day, while many other animals sleep during the night. an aloe vera plant with extra thick leaves survives a long drought in a desert, while an aloe vera plant with thinner leaves does not. a tuna with a differently shaped fin can swim faster and catch more prey than other tuna.

Explanation:

• Option A: Genetic modification is human - driven, not natural selection. Natural selection is a natural process without human intervention in the genetic makeup for a trait.
• Option B: This is artificial selection (selective breeding by a farmer), not natural selection as it is human - directed breeding.
• Option C: Owls' diurnal sleep pattern is a behavioral adaptation, but it does not show differential survival or reproduction based on a trait (no selection pressure acting on a heritable trait leading to change in population).
• Option D: The aloe vera with extra - thick leaves has a heritable trait (thickness of leaves) that allows it to survive the drought (selection pressure), while the one with thinner leaves does not. This shows natural selection as the trait (leaf thickness) affects survival, and the trait is heritable.
• Option E: The tuna with a differently shaped fin has a heritable trait (fin shape) that allows it to swim faster, catch more prey (better survival and reproduction chances), which is natural selection as the trait affects fitness and is heritable.

Answer:

D. An aloe vera plant with extra thick leaves survives a long drought in a desert, while an aloe vera plant with thinner leaves does not.
E. A tuna with a differently shaped fin can swim faster and catch more prey than other tuna.