195k views
2 votes
Does natural selection result in organisms that are more complex even if they are less well adapted to their local environment?

a) Yes, complexity always increases
b) No, complexity is irrelevant in natural selection
c) It depends on the specific environmental pressures
d) Complexity is inversely proportional to adaptation

User Or Hor
by
7.2k points

2 Answers

3 votes

Final answer:

Natural selection result in organisms that are more complex even if they are less well adapted to their local environment c) It depends on the specific environmental pressures

Step-by-step explanation:

The impact of natural selection on the complexity of organisms depends on the specific environmental pressures. Natural selection favors traits that enhance an organism's fitness in its particular environment. While some environments may select for increased complexity, others may favor simplicity or specialized adaptations.

Therefore, the relationship between natural selection and complexity is context-dependent, and the correct answer is c) It depends on the specific environmental pressures. Options a, b, and d present extreme or overly generalized views that do not capture the nuanced nature of natural selection.

User Hawkzey
by
7.9k points
1 vote

Final answer:

Natural selection result in organisms that are more complex even if they are less well adapted to their local environment is C. It depends on the specific environmental pressures.

Step-by-step explanation:

Complexity in organisms is not directly related to their level of adaptation to their local environment. Natural selection acts on the heritable traits that allow for environmental adaptation, selecting for beneficial alleles and increasing their frequency in the population. In some cases, greater complexity may provide an advantage in certain environments, but it is not a determining factor in natural selection.

For example, consider a population of organisms in a highly specialized niche with specific environmental pressures. If a simpler, less complex organism is better able to adapt to these pressures, it may be more well-adapted than a more complex organism in the same environment.

Therefore, the correct answer is c) It depends on the specific environmental pressures. Complexity and adaptation are not inversely proportional, as complexity itself does not determine an organism's level of adaptation.

User Podperson
by
7.3k points