Which of the following concepts does NOT directly relate to natural selection?

Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution where individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to the next generation. Adaptation, which refers to the process where species become better suited to their environments, is a direct result of natural selection. Microevolution involves changes in allele frequencies within a population over time and is heavily influenced by natural selection, as it contributes to the gradual evolution of species.

Mendelian inheritance deals with the patterns of inheritance of traits based on the principles established by Gregor Mendel. While it is an important aspect of genetics and provides the framework for understanding how traits are inherited, it does not directly relate to the mechanism of natural selection itself. Mendelian inheritance describes how traits are passed from parents to offspring but does not encompass the selective pressures and environmental influences that drive the evolution of these traits over time.

Genetic drift, on the other hand, is a separate evolutionary mechanism that can affect allele frequencies in populations, particularly in small populations, through random chance. However, it does not involve the selective advantages of traits as natural selection does.

Thus, the concept that does not directly relate to natural selection is Mendelian inheritance, as it describes the transmission of genes rather than the process of selecting for advantageous