Final answer:
The peppered moth example illustrates that evolution is not a linear progression towards betterment, but an adaptive process that responds to environmental changes, exemplified by the directional selection that favored darker moths during the Industrial Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many people assume that evolution is linear, suggesting a progress towards betterment or perfection. However, the peppered moth example demonstrates that evolution is not a linear path towards a predefined goal, but rather a response to changes in the environment. In the case of the peppered moth, the changing environment during the Industrial Revolution resulted in selection pressure which favored the survival of moths with darker colorations. This shift in coloration was not a step towards perfection, but rather an adaptation that improved their camouflage against the soot-covered trees, thus increasing their survival chances in that specific context. In a larger sense, evolution does not lead to species becoming "better" over time but adapts them to their changing environments, maximizing their reproductive success in particular conditions. The traits that are advantageous in one environment at one time may become disadvantageous under different circumstances in the future. The peppered moth's story showcases directional selection, one of several mechanisms by which evolution operates, highlighting that evolution is an ongoing process subject to the ever-changing pressures of the environment.