How does the creation of variations in a species promote survival?
The creation of variations in a species promotes survival because not all variations have equal chances of surviving in the environment. Depending on the nature of variations, different individuals would have different kinds of advantages.
For example, bacteria that can withstand heat will survive better in a heat wave compared to others. The selection of variants by environmental factors forms the basis for evolutionary processes.
These variations arising during the process of reproduction can be inherited and may lead to increased survival of the individuals. Thus, variations enable species to adapt and survive in changing environmental conditions.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the textbook context which explains that variations do not have equal chances of survival. The context provides the example of heat-resistant bacteria surviving better during a heat wave. It also states that selection of variants by environmental factors forms the basis for evolutionary processes, and that variations may lead to increased survival of individuals.