Final answer:
The false statement is that natural selection creates variation; natural selection acts on existing variation but does not create it. Artificial and natural selection both involve favored traits, yet the former is human-directed while the latter is environmentally driven. Artificial selection provides evidence for evolutionary processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is false is: Natural selection creates variation in organisms. Natural selection does not create variation; instead, it acts upon existing variability within a population by favoring individuals with certain traits over others. These traits typically aid in survival and increase the chance of reproductive success in a given environment. Variation is the raw material upon which natural selection works, and it arises from mutations and genetic recombination, not from natural selection itself.
Artificial selection and natural selection both involve the differential reproduction of individuals with favored traits. However, with artificial selection, humans are the selective agents who breed organisms with desired traits, such as how broccoli, cabbage, and kale were developed from wild mustard through selective breeding. In contrast, in natural selection, environmental pressures are the selective agents that determine which traits are advantageous for survival and reproduction.
Artificial selection serves as evidence for evolution by providing concrete examples of how selection can lead to significant changes in organisms over relatively short periods of time, supporting the broader concept of evolution through natural selection.