Does natural selection work most on the level of the gene, individual or species?

Question

Does natural selection work most on the level of the gene, individual or species?

Answer 1

Please, if you found my answer the best, choose it as the best answer =]

Consider polydactyly (a case wherein you have 6 fingers). It is caused by a DOMINANT ALLELE (meaning, if a dominant is mated with any type of allele, there will always be the dominant allele's existence) but for every 400 babies born, only 1 gets an extra finger. Yes, it is dominant, but is it common? No. Why? Natural selection.

Answer 2

Trust me, the answer your teacher is looking for is ... species.

Natural selection is a *statistical* process that works at the level of a population ... like a *species*.   A single individual cannot undergo "natural selection".   And a single gene cannot undergo "natural selection" except in the context of a population (a species).

This is basic, 10th-grade biology.

Answer 3

That has to be answered with yes.  Mutations happen at the level of the gene.  These effect the make up of the individual.  They spread, or otherwise, by reproduction through future generations of the species.

This is rather like asking: Does a particular traveller from Manchester to London walk, use the bus or tavel by train?  In this case, the journey involved all three possibilities at different stages.

Answer 4

yes,natural selection work on the level of gene only.Genetically changed charecters are transformed frome one genaration to another genaretion.

   some times harmful or unwanted charecters are aslo expressed due to Mutation in the genetic meterial,these charecters are not transformed genarations to genaration,why because these are rectified by repaire mechanism.