How Fast Does Evolution by Natural Selection Take Place

question 48

Multiple Choice

How fast does evolution by natural selection take place?

• A) It is such a slow process that a single adaptation requires millions of years.
• B) It is so slow that it cannot be seen in the fossil record.
• C) It is fast enough that several new species can evolve from other forms in a few million years.
• D) It is so rapid that new species often evolve in a matter of decades.

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Definitions:

Anatomical Sex

Identification as male or female based on physical sex characteristics such as gonads, uterus, vulva, vagina, and penis.

Assigned Gender

The gender assigned to an individual at birth based on physical anatomy, which may or may not align with their gender identity later in life.

Genetic Sex

The sex of an individual as determined by their chromosomes, typically XX for females and XY for males.

Gender Identity

An individual's personal sense of their own gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth.