Final answer:
Evolutionary theory explains patterns of human biological variation through natural selection, which favors individuals with advantageous traits. Factors like social status, ethnicity, age, and nutrition contribute to human variability. Evolutionary biology and sociobiology provide insights into human behavior and the drive to propagate genetic inheritance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evolutionary theory explains patterns of human biological variation by proposing that natural selection is the guiding force behind the development of life on Earth. Natural selection is based on the principle that individuals with more favorable characteristics are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to future generations. This process of natural selection leads to the diversification and adaptation of species over time. For example, variations in human skin pigmentation are a result of evolutionary adaptations to different levels of exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Human biological variation is influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Social status, ethnicity, age, nutrition, quality of life, healthcare access, work, and occupation are some of the factors that contribute to human variability. Evolutionary biology and sociobiology explain human behavior, including mating behavior and the drive to continue the genetic inheritance. These theories highlight the influence of evolutionary processes on human variation and behavior.