___________ is the synthesis of ideas from the theory of natural selection, the mutation theory and Mendel's principles of heredity.

The correct option is D both b and c
Charles Darwin is the father of evolution. He believed that evolution is a gradual process and new species evolve by natural selection.

Natural selection is a process in which heritable variations enabling better survival are enabled to reproduce and leave a greater number of offspring.

But Darwin’s theory had some shortcomings which were addressed by certain scientists like Dobzhansky, Fisher, Mayr, Stebbins, Haldane and Wright. They proposed the modern synthetic theory of evolution.

The modern synthetic theory of evolution or Neo-Darwinism, is an improvement of Darwin’s theory of natural selection. It is a combination of ideas from Darwin's theory of natural selection, mutation theory and Mendel’s principles of heredity. It states that genetic variations (mutations) occurring in the germ cells are inherited, not all variations as stated by Darwin.

According to this concept, formation of a new species (speciation) is the result of the following factors:

• Variations in the gene pool of a population bring about evolution under the influence of natural selection.
• Variations in the gene pool of a population are introduced by mutations (gene mutations or chromosomal aberrations), genetic recombination or hybridisation.
• Natural selection of genetic variations allows individuals with advantageous variations to survive, reach maturity and reproduce to contribute genes in the gene pool.