Which of the following best describes natural selection?

Natural selection is best described as the selection of beneficial phenotypes that enhance survival. This process is a key mechanism of evolution, where individuals with traits that confer a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to pass those traits on to the next generation. Over time, these advantageous traits become more common in the population, leading to adaptations that help organisms thrive in their specific environments.

In this context, the idea is that natural selection acts on existing genetic variation and is not a random process; instead, it is focused on the improvement of fitness in the population. The traits chosen through this mechanism are beneficial in the given environment, which allows organisms to better survive, reproduce, and pass on these traits.

The other choices do not accurately describe natural selection. Randomly shuffling genes does not imply a mechanism of selecting beneficial traits; rather, it implies genetic variation without a directional influence. Artificial selection refers to human intervention in breeding practices to favor particular traits, which is different from the natural selection process that occurs in nature without human influence. Additionally, the elimination of all recessive alleles does not occur in natural selection, as not all recessive alleles are detrimental; some may also confer advantages or be neutral depending on the environmental context. Therefore, option B provides