Question

An individual hydra is swept by an ocean current to an area of the ocean where no other hydras reside. The hydra asexually reproduces, as does its offspring, until there is a population of genetically identical hydra. Is it possible for this population to undergo natural selection?
A. Yes, the population will undergo changes in order to become better adapted to the new environment.

B. No, there is no genetic variation upon which natural selection can operate.

C. Yes, all populations are capable of undergoing natural selection.

D. No, natural selection does not occur in organisms that reproduce asexually.

Answer 1

Answer:

B

Explanation:

Natural selection works by selecting organisms that have unfavorable traits and killing them. However, if all the hydras are identical(from asexual reproduction), then there is no single organism that has a favorable trait over another.

Answer 2

Answer: B) No, there is no genetic variation upon wich natural selection can operate.

Explanation: Natural selection could not occur if there was no genetic diversity amongst species. All individuals of this population are genetically identical. In this case, the only way natural selection could occur is if one of the offspring experiences a genetic mutation, which would introduce genetic diversity into the population.

Therefore, it is not possible for this population to undergo natural selection because there is no genetic variation upon which natural selection can operate.