AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Insects rub against the leaves, bark, or dirt that they live on, so that the pigments from these substances are transferred to their bodies. Their offspring inherit this coloration and blend in more effectively. Mutations occur frequently, so that each offspring insect is a completely different color.

Detailed explanation-2: -There are four principles at work in evolution-variation, inheritance, selection and time. These are considered the components of the evolutionary mechanism of natural selection.

Detailed explanation-3: -Mutation: A mutation could cause beetle parents with genes for bright green coloration to have offspring with a gene for brown coloration. That would make genes for brown coloration more frequent in the population than they were before the mutation.

Detailed explanation-4: -How does natural selection apply to sexual reproduction as opposed to asexual reproduction? Sexual reproduction results in many new gene combinations, some of which will lead to differential reproduction.

Detailed explanation-5: -Genetic variations that alter gene activity or protein function can introduce different traits in an organism. If a trait is advantageous and helps the individual survive and reproduce, the genetic variation is more likely to be passed to the next generation (a process known as natural selection).