IB Biology HL 4.1.1 Natural Selection
Practise analysing HL natural-selection evidence, including behavioural evolution, resistance data and rapid environmental change.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Course
- Biology HL
- Level
- HL
Exam points
- Analyse variation, inheritance and selection pressure in behavioural and morphological evolution.
- Interpret resistance and population data to explain changing selection over time.
- Evaluate named examples of rapid evolution using heritable traits and environmental evidence.
D4.1.1—Natural selection as mechanism question 1
[Maximum number: 8]
Explain how evolution may happen in response to environmental change with evidence from examples.
a. variation in population;
b. (variation is) due to mutation/sexual reproduction;
c. valid example of variation in a specific population;
d. more offspring are produced than can survive / populations over-populate;
e. competition / struggle for resources/survival;
f. example of competition/struggle for resources;
g. survival of fittest/best adapted (to the changed environment)/those with beneficial adaptations / converse;
h. example of changed environment and adaptation to it;
i. favourable genes/alleles passed on / best adapted reproduce (more) /converse;
j. example of reproduction of individuals better adapted to changed environment;
k. alleles for adaptations to the changed environment increase in the population;
I. example of genes/alleles for adaptations increasing in a population; m. evolution by natural selection;
n. evolution is (cumulative) change in population/species over time / change in allele frequency;
Suitable examples are antibiotic resistance and the peppered moth but any genuine evidence-based example of adaptation to environmental change can be credited.
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