What does the theory of natural selection primarily address?

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The theory of natural selection primarily addresses the idea that certain traits increase an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a specific environment. This concept, often summarized as "survival of the fittest," refers to the process through which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass those traits on to the next generation. The focus of natural selection is on the differential success of individuals based on how well-suited they are to their environment, which ultimately drives the evolution of species over time.

Understanding that the "fittest" does not necessarily refer solely to physical strength or speed, but rather to the overall adaptability and reproductive success of an organism in a specific context is crucial. The theory emphasizes that these successful traits will become more common within a population over generations, leading to evolutionary change.

While other options touch on important aspects related to evolution and adaptation, they do not capture the primary focus of natural selection as distinctly as the concept of survival and reproduction of the fittest organisms. For instance, extinction of species and the role of mutations are important in the broader context of evolution but are not central to the mechanism of natural selection itself. Likewise, while genetic variation is a key factor in the process, it is the application of this variation

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