The mutation scenario that will always lead to natural selection is:
D) A mutation causes a specific advantage within the population.
This is because natural selection occurs when individuals with certain heritable traits have a better chance of survival and reproduction than those without those traits. If a mutation gives an individual a specific advantage, it is more likely to be passed on to the next generation, thus driving the process of natural selection.
The other options do not necessarily lead to natural selection:
- A) While a mutation causing variation can lead to natural selection, it does not guarantee that the variation will be advantageous.
- B) Inactivating a gene may or may not provide a selective advantage or disadvantage, depending on the context.
- C) Reactivating an inactive gene does not ensure a specific advantage; the reactivation could potentially be neutral or detrimental, as well.