Final answer:
living organisms possess mechanisms to minimize mutations. Mutations are random, but the process of natural selection, which favors beneficial adaptations arising from mutations, is not random, thus guiding the evolution process.
Step-by-step explanation:
all living organisms have evolved mechanisms that help minimize mutations. Mutations in genes are a random process which contributes to genetic variation and ultimately, through natural selection, to evolution. Not all mutations are beneficial, most are actually harmful; organisms thus have developed robust systems to correct errors in DNA replication and to repair DNA damage. For instance, DNA polymerase — the enzyme responsible for copying DNA — also has the ability to proofread and fix mistakes during DNA replication. Additionally, various other cellular mechanisms exist that help repair any damage to DNA that occurs due to environmental factors.
It should be noted that while mutations are random, the process of natural selection itself is not. Natural selection favors variants that improve an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment. This means that over generations, those organisms with beneficial adaptations, which may arise from mutations, are more likely to thrive and pass on their genetic material. Therefore, the overall process of evolution, which includes both mutation and natural selection, is not completely random.