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Natural selection is described as the only known mechanism for:
ASpontaneous mutation
BHorizontal gene flow
CAdaptive evolution
DRandom genetic drift
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Adaptive evolution
1. Several processes change allele frequencies in a population.
2. Only one of them systematically improves the fit between organism and environment.
3. Ultimately, natural selection leads to greater adaptation of the population to its local environment; it is the only mechanism known for adaptive evolution.
4. Drift and mutation change populations but not in a consistently adaptive direction.
_Source: OpenStax Biology for AP(R) Courses (CC BY 4.0), Ch 18 'Evolution and the Origin of Species', sections 18.1-18.3_
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