Which of the following best describes the difference between selective breeding and natural selection?
A.
Selective breeding is the process of creating entirely new species, while natural selection modifies currently living species.
B.
Selective breeding is performed by humans to achieve desired traits, while natural selection occurs without human involvement.
C.
Selective breeding is performed by humans to change a trait in a currently living species, while natural selection is performed to change future offspring.
D.
Selective breeding is a type of breeding that organisms in the wild carry out, while natural selection is a type of breeding that domestic organisms carry out.
B. Selective breeding is performed by humans to achieve desired traits, while natural selection occurs without human involvement.
The best answer to this question is B. Selective breeding is performed by humans to achieve desired traits, while natural selection occurs without human involvement.
To explain how to arrive at this answer, it is important to understand the definitions of both selective breeding and natural selection. Selective breeding is a practice in which humans choose certain organisms with desirable traits and breed them so that those traits become more prevalent in subsequent generations. This process is intentional and guided by human intervention.
Natural selection, on the other hand, is a mechanism of evolution that occurs without human involvement. It is a process where organisms with advantageous traits have a better chance of survival and reproduction, ultimately leading to the passing on of those traits to future generations. Natural selection is driven by the pressure of the environment, the competition for resources, and the interactions between organisms.
Given these definitions, option B accurately describes the main difference between selective breeding and natural selection. Selective breeding is a deliberate process performed by humans to achieve desired traits, while natural selection occurs naturally in response to environmental factors and without any human intervention.