Questions: Question 3
2 pts
Which statement is true?
a. Evolution is climbing a ladder towards perfection.
b. Evolution may cause the loss of beneficial or complex traits.
a
b
Transcript text: Question 3
2 pts
Which statement is true?
a. Evolution is climbing a ladder towards perfection.
b. Evolution may cause the loss of beneficial or complex traits.
a
b
Solution
The answer is b: Evolution may cause the loss of beneficial or complex traits.
Explanation for each option:
a. Evolution is climbing a ladder towards perfection.
This statement is incorrect. Evolution is not a process that aims for perfection or a specific goal. It is a natural process driven by genetic variation, mutation, and natural selection, which can lead to changes in traits that are beneficial, neutral, or even detrimental, depending on the environment.
b. Evolution may cause the loss of beneficial or complex traits.
This statement is correct. Evolution can lead to the loss of traits if they are no longer advantageous in a given environment. For example, cave-dwelling animals may lose their eyesight over generations because vision is not beneficial in complete darkness, and maintaining it would be an unnecessary energy expenditure.
In summary, evolution is not a directed process towards perfection, and it can result in the loss of traits that were once beneficial if they no longer provide an advantage in the current environment.