Science (086) — AI-generated practice question

Variation during reproduction is beneficial to a species because it improves the chances of survival when environmental conditions change. However, most individual organisms possessing a variation may not benefit from it — in fact, they may be at a disadvantage in existing conditions.

Example: In a population of bacteria living in temperate water, if global warming raises the water temperature, most bacteria will die. Only those few individuals with a heat-resistant variation will survive and reproduce. The variation harmed the species' current numbers but saved it from extinction — yet for the majority of individual bacteria, it provided no benefit.

Source: Chapter 7, Section 7.1.1 — The Importance of Variation

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• Examiners want two clear sides: benefit to species (survival of population over time) vs. no guaranteed benefit to individual.
• The bacteria + global warming example from the textbook is the expected one — use it directly.
• Key phrase to include: "survival of species over time."
• Don't write about DNA copying or modes of reproduction — stay focused on the variation distinction.