Which of the following is essential in any model of natural selection? (A) High reproductive rates (B) Random selection of prey (C) A population of predators (D) Differences in the population - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 7 - 2014 - Paper 1

Natural selection relies on variation within a population. Differences in traits among individuals—such as color, size, and resistance to disease—lead to survival advantages in certain environments. Those individuals that possess favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to the next generation, potentially leading to evolutionary change.