An inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival is called an

An inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival is called an

• A. Adaptation
• B. Evolution
• C. Artificial selection
• D. Variation

Answer: (A)

An inherited trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment is called an adaptation. Adaptations are favored by natural selection because individuals with beneficial traits are more likely to survive and pass those traits to their offspring, so the trait becomes more common over generations. This distinguishes adaptation from artificial selection, which is human-directed breeding, not a natural survival advantage. Variation refers to differences among individuals, which may or may not affect fitness, and evolution describes the broader change in a population’s genetic makeup over time, which can include the accumulation of adaptations.

An inherited trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment is called an adaptation. Adaptations are favored by natural selection because individuals with beneficial traits are more likely to survive and pass those traits to their offspring, so the trait becomes more common over generations. This distinguishes adaptation from artificial selection, which is human-directed breeding, not a natural survival advantage. Variation refers to differences among individuals, which may or may not affect fitness, and evolution describes the broader change in a population’s genetic makeup over time, which can include the accumulation of adaptations.