Question

Justify Why is mutation considered a random process for introducing alleles, while evolution by natural selection is a non-random process that can alter allele frequency in a population?

A) Mutations are non-random because they are guided by an organism's needs, while natural selection is random.
B) Both mutation and natural selection are entirely random processes.
C) Mutations are random genetic changes, while natural selection is non-random because it acts on traits that provide a selective advantage.
D) Mutations are planned genetic alterations, and natural selection is a random process.

Answer 1

A) Mutation randomly introduces alleles, serving as a source of genetic variation, while evolution by natural selection is a non-random process that favours advantageous traits, driving the adaptation of species.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mutation can be considered a random process for introducing alleles because it involves changes to an organism's DNA that occur without any predictable pattern or specific need of the organism. These changes generate genetic variation. On the other hand, evolution by natural selection is a non-random process as it consistently favours genetic variants that provide a selective advantage, enhancing an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a given environment. Natural selection acts on the diversity created by mutations to 'select' traits that confer a benefit, while disadvantageous mutations tend to be removed from the population. This transition from a random introduction of mutations to the non-random process of natural selection is what drives evolution and results in the adaptation of species to their environments.