Answer:
Natural selection is a complex process, and several of the statements listed touch on different aspects of it. Let's analyze each statement:
1. **Is a result of mutation that is beneficial**: **True (Partially)**. Natural selection acts on variations within a population, and these variations can be the result of mutations. However, not all mutations are beneficial; natural selection favors those that provide some advantage in a given environment.
2. **Often is referred to as survival of the fittest**: **True**. The phrase "survival of the fittest" is often used to describe natural selection. It means that individuals best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
3. **Is random**: **False**. Natural selection itself is not random. It is a non-random process where certain traits become more common in a population because they confer a survival or reproductive advantage.
4. **Is not random**: **True**. Natural selection is a non-random process that favors advantageous traits over less advantageous ones.
5. **Is the same as genetic drift**: **False**. Natural selection and genetic drift are different mechanisms of evolution. Genetic drift refers to random changes in the frequency of alleles in a population, often having a more significant effect in small populations, whereas natural selection is the non-random increase in advantageous traits.
So, the correct selections would be:
- Natural selection **is a result of mutation that is beneficial**.
- Natural selection **often is referred to as survival of the fittest**.
- Natural selection **is not random**.
