
Concept explainers
Compared
to a hypothesis, a scientific theory is usually more general and substantiated by a
much greater amount of evidence. Natural selection is an explanatory idea that
applies to all kinds of organisms and is supported by vast amounts of evidence of
various kinds.

Natural selection is considered as a scientific theory and not as a hypothesis. It states that an organism adapts itself to survive in an environment by altering its phenotype and genotype by reproductive means. It leads to the evolution of the species in which the organisms are fitter to use the resources of that particular environment.
A hypothesis is just an assumption and requires further applied research and is tentative. After a hypothesis has been proposed it is bound to discussions and arguments with proper testings to know its validity.
For example, a hypothesis suggests that cell-phone transmissions were responsible for disrupting the bees' navigational abilities. It is just a hypothesis that lacks proper pieces of evidence and explanations.
A scientific theory is already supported by evidence and data that has been collected for many years. It explains the pattern or cause of occurrence of events that have already been substantiated by data by forming the principles. These principles are accepted by the worldwide scientific communities.
In comparison, a theory is more accurate than a hypothesis.
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- Describe natural selection and give an example of natural selection at work in a population.arrow_forwardCharles Darwin proposed that evolution could be explained by the differential reproductive success of organisms that resulted from their naturally occurring variation. Darwin called this process (a) coevolution (b) convergent evolution (c) natural selection (d) artificial selection (e) homoplasyarrow_forwardWhich of the following is not true of natural selection? (a) natural selection acts to preserve favorable traits and eliminate unfavorable traits (b) the offspring of individuals that are better adapted to the environment will make up a larger proportion of the next generation (c) natural selection directs the course of evolution by preserving the traits acquired during an individuals lifetime (d) natural selection acts on a populations genetic variability, which arises through mutation (e) natural selection may result in changes in allele frequencies in a populationarrow_forward
- In _______________ the selecting agent is the environment, whereas in _______________ the selecting agent is humans. (a) natural selection; convergent evolution (b) mutation; artificial selection (c) homoplasy; homology (d) artificial selection; natural selection (e) natural selection; artificial selectionarrow_forwardFigure 1.8 Which of the following statements is false? A. Tissues exist within organs which exist within organ systems. B. Communities exist within populations which exist within ecosystems. C. Organelles exist within cells which exist within tissues. D. Communities exist within ecosystems which exist in the biosphere.arrow_forwardWhich scientific concept did Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace independently discover? a. mutation b. natural selection c. overbreeding d. sexual reproductionarrow_forward
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