Question

Why do we essentially never see the appearance of a brand-new structure "from scratch" in evolutionary biology?

A) Because evolution is a guided process that produces predictable outcomes.

B) Because natural selection favors the development of new structures in every generation.

C) Because the laws of genetics prevent the emergence of novel traits.

D) Because evolution typically relies on modifying existing structures due to efficiency and survival advantages.

Answer 1

Evolutionary biology rarely sees the appearance of brand-new structures 'from scratch' because of the efficiency and survival advantages of modifying existing structures. Natural selection acts on individuals by selecting beneficial traits from genetically different individuals in a population, resulting in the spread of these traits through successive generations. Option b.

Step-by-step explanation:

Evolutionary biology essentially never sees the appearance of a brand-new structure 'from scratch' because evolution typically relies on modifying existing structures due to efficiency and survival advantages. Natural selection favors the development of new structures in every generation, but it acts on individuals by selecting beneficial traits from genetically different individuals in a population. These selected traits then spread through successive generations, increasing diversity and complexity at all levels of biological organization. Option b.