Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Integrated Science (024) Practice Exam

What concept does Darwin's theory of evolution primarily rely on?

1. Artificial selection

2. Natural selection

3. Genetic drift

4. Polygenic inheritance

The correct answer is: Natural selection

Darwin's theory of evolution primarily relies on the concept of natural selection. This mechanism explains how certain traits become more or less common in a population over generations based on their impact on survival and reproduction. Natural selection posits that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, thereby passing those traits to the next generation. This process can lead to the adaptation of species to their environments over time. The other concepts listed, while related to evolutionary biology, do not form the central basis of Darwin's original theory. Artificial selection, for example, involves human intervention in breeding practices to enhance desired traits, which differs fundamentally from the natural processes Darwin described. Genetic drift refers to random changes in allele frequencies in small populations, while polygenic inheritance pertains to traits controlled by multiple genes, neither of which were the focus of Darwin's work on natural selection and adaptation.