[Campbell Biology P.596] What does the concept 'Evolution is not goal oriented' imply about ... | Practice Question

What does the concept 'Evolution is not goal oriented' imply about the history of life?

  • A: Evolutionary pathways are shaped by a combination of small-scale factors (like natural selection) and large-scale factors (like continental drift), without a predetermined endpoint.
  • B: All species are perfectly adapted to their environments, reaching an ultimate evolutionary goal.
  • C: New species arise only through random mutations without any selective pressure.
  • D: Evolution always progresses towards increasing complexity and intelligence.

Explanation

The concept that 'Evolution is not goal oriented' means that life's history is shaped by various interacting factors—both small-scale like natural selection and large-scale like continental drift —without a predetermined plan or ultimate objective. Evolution is a process of ongoing adaptation to changing conditions, not a march towards a specific endpoint.