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nmdcat.online July 14, 2026

Which of the following is a key prerequisite for natural selection to act upon a phenotypic trait within a population?

A. The trait must be completely dominant over all other alleles.
B. The trait must be acquired through physical exercise or metabolic effort.
C. The variation in the trait must have a heritable genetic basis.
✓
D. The trait must be present in every single individual at birth.

📝 Explanation

Natural selection can only change the genetic makeup of a population over generations if the phenotypic variations being selected have an underlying heritable genetic basis.

📖 Additional Information

  • The trait must be completely dominant over all other alleles.
  • The trait must be acquired through physical exercise or metabolic effort.
  • The variation in the trait must have a heritable genetic basis.
  • The trait must be present in every single individual at birth.

Natural selection can only change the genetic makeup of a population over generations if the phenotypic variations being selected have an underlying heritable genetic basis.

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