Question

Which of the following best defines "Hopeful monsters"?

A. Organisms that evolve major genetic changes and hopefully be adapted to new life.
B. Organisms that evolve through major genetic and phenotypic changes by saltation and hopefully be adapted to new life.
C. Organisms that evolve in sudden bursts of major genetic changes.
D. Organisms that evolve through major genetic changes gradually.

Answer 1

Hopeful monsters refer to organisms with sudden significant genetic and phenotypic changes due to saltation, potentially leading to speciation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "Hopeful monsters" refers to organisms that undergo major genetic and phenotypic changes through a process known as saltation, which results in significant changes in a single generation. This concept is related to the idea that sometimes, large mutations can result in new traits that may give an organism an advantage in certain environments, potentially leading to speciation. However, it's important to emphasize that evolution is not goal-directed; traits that are beneficial in one environment may not be so in another, and what evolves is a result of variation within a population and the changing environment.