Which statement best describes the evolution of pesticide resistance in a population of insects? a) individual members of the population slowly adapt to the presence of the chemical by striving to meet the new challengeb) all insects exposed to the insecticide begin to use a formerly silent gene to make a new enzyme that breaks down the insecticide moleculesc) insects observe the behavior of other insects that survive pesticide application, and adjust their own behaviors to copy those of the survivorsd) offspring of insects that are genetically resist to the pesticide become more abundant as the susceptible insects die offd) offspring of insects that are genetically resist to the pesticide become more abundant as the susceptible insects die off.

the statement that best describes the evolution of pesticide resistance in a population of insects is option B ( all insects exposed to the insecticide begins to use a formerly silent gene to make a new enzyme that breaks down the insecticide molecules.

Explanation:

Pest resistance is defined as the ability of a pest population to develop a decrease susceptibility towards a pesticide that was previously effective at controlling them. Pests becomes resistance by developing a number of physiological changes. The pests increase the number of copies of genes that allows the organism to produce more protective enzymes such as esterases and mixed microsomal oxidases. These allows the organism to break down the pesticide into less toxic chemicals. I hope this helps.