Which statement applies to artificial selection, but not natural selection?

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Question restatement: Which statement applies to artificial selection, but not natural selection?

Option 1: 'Organisms are capable of producing more offspring than typically will survive.' This is a general observation of reproduction and survival pressures that apply to both natural and artificial contexts, not something unique to artificial selection. It describes a basic aspect of competition for resources, not a feature exclusive to human-directed breeding.

Option 2: 'The phenotypic variation of a species can be increased very rapidly.' This reflects a scenario where human intervention can introduce or magnify variety through deliberate breeding programs, cross-breeding, or selection across multiple lines, potentially accelerating the appearance of new phenotypes beyond what natural processes alone would typically produce in a short time. While natural selection can alter traits, it usually modulates existing variation rather than rapidly increasing overall phenotypic diversity; artificial selection, guided by human preferences, can push new phenotypes into prominence quickly, making this statement characteristic of artificial selection rather than natural selection.

Option 3: 'Phenotypic variation exists within populations.' This is a fundamental truth about biological populations in both natural and artificial contexts. Variation arises from mutations, recombination, and other processes, and exists regardless of whether selection is natural or human-imposed.

Option 4: 'Phenotypic variation can influence reproductive success.' In natural selection, variation in traits affects fitness and thus reproductive success; in artificial selection, humans actively choose individuals with desirable traits to reproduce, so variation influences outcomes as well. This statement is true for both processes, not exclusive to artificial selection.

Option 5: 'Phenotypic variation within a species is due in part to inherited characteristics.' Inheritance underpins how traits are passed to offspring in both natural and artificial selection; this statement is a general principle of evolution and breeding, not unique to artificial selection.

Summary assessment: Among the options, the one that captures a feature more specific to artificial selection—namely the potential to rapidly increase phenotypic variation through human-directed breeding—is option 2. The other statements describe principles that apply to natural selection as well or are general facts about variation that do not distinguish artificial from natural selection.

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Which statement applies to artificial selection, but not natural selection?

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