"Differential reproduction" is just another way of saying `:`

Options

A. variation
B. mutation
C. genetic drift
D. natural selection

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding Differential Reproduction**: The term "differential reproduction" refers to the concept that not all individuals in a population have the same likelihood of reproducing successfully. Some individuals have traits that make them more suited to their environment, allowing them to reproduce more effectively than others.

2. **Identifying Related Concepts**: The question lists several concepts: variation, mutation, genetic drift, and natural selection. We need to determine which of these concepts aligns most closely with differential reproduction.

3. **Exploring Natural Selection**: Natural selection is a process where individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. This leads to a higher representation of those traits in future generations. Thus, natural selection inherently involves differential reproduction, as those with advantageous traits reproduce more than those without.

4. **Examining Other Options**:
- **Variation** refers to differences among individuals in a population, but it does not directly imply reproduction.
- **Mutation** is a change in DNA that can lead to variation but does not directly relate to the concept of reproduction.
- **Genetic Drift** involves random changes in allele frequencies in a population, which can affect reproduction but is not synonymous with differential reproduction.

5. **Conclusion**: Since natural selection directly involves the concept of differential reproduction, it is the correct answer. It explains how environmental pressures lead to the survival of the fittest, where those better adapted to their environment reproduce more successfully.

**Final Answer**: Differential reproduction is just another way of saying **natural selection**.

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