Which of the following processes allows for evolution through differential survival and reproduction?

Natural selection is the primary process that drives evolution by affecting different survival and reproduction rates within populations. It operates on the principle that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those favorable traits onto the next generation. This leads to changes in the traits of a population over time, as beneficial adaptations become more common, while less advantageous traits may diminish.

The concept of natural selection is grounded in several key observations: there is variation among individuals in a population, these variations are often heritable, and individuals with traits that provide a fitness advantage tend to produce more offspring. Over generations, this process can lead to the emergence of new species and an overall adaptation of organisms to their environments.

While mutation introduces new genetic variations, and gene flow contributes to genetic diversity between populations, and genetic drift leads to random changes in allele frequencies, it is natural selection that specifically links differential survival and reproduction to the evolution of species. Thus, it is the critical mechanism by which adaptations arise in populations, ultimately shaping the evolutionary trajectory of life on Earth.