Final answer:
Natural selection requires genetic variation, differential survival, and heritability, as all these factors ensure that favorable traits are transmitted to subsequent generations. So, the necessary conditions for natural selection to occur are all of the above.
Step-by-step explanation:
The criteria absolutely necessary for natural selection to occur are genetic variation, differential survival, and heritability. To explain further, genetic variation among individuals in a population is critical because it provides the raw material upon which natural selection can act. Without variation, there would be no differential success in reproduction. Differential survival, or differential reproductive success, occurs when individuals with certain traits are more likely to survive and reproduce under specific environmental conditions compared to those without those traits. Lastly, heritability is the ability of those advantageous traits to be passed down to the next generation. Therefore, the answer is D) All of the above.