To explain how natural selection affected the number of dark red walking beans over days 4 to 6, we first need to consider a few key factors: the traits of the beans, the environment, and how those traits affect survival and reproduction.
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Initial Population: At days 4, the population of walking beans includes a variety of colors (e.g., light red, dark red, green, etc.). The dark red beans may possess certain advantages or disadvantages based on the environment in which they exist (e.g., camouflage, attractiveness to predators, etc.).
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Survival Factors: Natural selection operates through differential survival and reproduction of individuals based on their traits. If the environment favors the dark red beans—perhaps the background color or texture of the habitat provides better camouflage against predators—those beans are likely to survive longer than their lighter-colored counterparts.
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Competition and Predation: As the days progress, we can assume that competition for resources (like food or space) and predation pressures influence the survival rates of the different color variants. If dark red beans are less visible to predators or more adept at competing for resources, they are likely to survive and reproduce at higher rates.
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Reproduction: The survivors (including the dark red beans) will reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to the next generation. As days 4 to 6 progress, if dark red beans are consistently favored for survival, the frequency of dark red beans will increase in the population.
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Genetic Change Over Time: Over the course of several generations, this selection pressure will cause the allele frequency in the population to shift towards the traits associated with dark red coloration, leading to an increase in the number of dark red walking beans.
In summary, if the environment favored dark red beans due to factors such as camouflage or resource competition, natural selection would lead to an increase in their population over time by enhancing their survival and reproductive success relative to other color variants. This dynamic process illustrates the fundamental concept of natural selection shaping the traits of a population in response to environmental pressures.