Which of the following is NOT a requirement for natural selection to occur?
Genetic variation within a population
Environmental pressures that favor certain traits over others
Random mutations in the genetic material of individuals
Selective pressures that favor certain traits over others
While genetic variation within a population, environmental pressures that favor certain traits, and selective pressures that favor certain traits are all requirements for natural selection to occur, random mutations in the genetic material of individuals are not a requirement. Mutations can introduce new variations into a population, but natural selection operates on the existing genetic variation.
Random mutations in the genetic material of individuals can introduce new variations into a population, which can then be acted upon by natural selection. However, random mutations are not a requirement for natural selection to occur.
Option 3 is the correct answer.