Question

Which of the following does NOT describe phenotypic plasticity?

1) Evolution occurs when organisms undergo plastic change in phenotype in response to the environment.
2) Evolution occurs when reaction norms for plastic traits change in response to selection.
3) Evolution occurs when variation in phenotypic plasticity is heritable.
4) Evolution occurs when variation in plastic traits is heritable.

Answer 1

The statement that does not describe phenotypic plasticity is that 'Evolution occurs when organisms undergo plastic change in phenotype in response to the environment.' Phenotypic plasticity involves an individual's ability to change its phenotype, not evolutionary changes at the genetic level.

Step-by-step explanation:

The option that does NOT describe phenotypic plasticity is: 1) Evolution occurs when organisms undergo plastic change in phenotype in response to the environment. This statement inaccurately suggests that individual organisms can evolve during their lifetime, which is not the case. Instead, evolution occurs at the population level over many generations. Phenotypic plasticity refers to the changes in an organism's phenotype in response to changes in the environment, but these changes are not the same as evolutionary changes, which involve genetic changes that are passed on to subsequent generations.

Phenotypic plasticity is a characteristic of individuals, allowing them to change their phenotype in response to environmental conditions. Evolution, however, involves changes in the heritable traits of a population over successive generations through processes such as natural selection, where more adapted individuals are likely to produce more offspring.