Question

Which best summarizes the idea of adaptive evolution?

A. Adaptive evolution is entirely a matter of chance, and therefore evolutionary trends will never occur except within individual species.
B. Adaptive evolution is a process of constant improvement that eventually leads to perfection.
C. Adaptive evolution produces clear trends in which all of the species in a group evolve to have similar adaptations at similar rates.
D. Adaptive evolution occurs as populations interact with changing local environments. Even a long-term trend can reverse itself if the environment changes dramatically.

Answer 1

Adaptive evolution is the process by which populations change and adapt to their changing environments over time through natural selection. It is not random and does not lead to constant improvement or produce clear trends in all species. It occurs as populations interact with changing environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

Adaptive evolution is the process by which populations change and adapt to their changing environments over time. It occurs as populations interact with changing local environments. Adaptive evolution is not a random process; it is driven by natural selection, which selects for individuals with traits that are better suited for their environment and increases the frequency of beneficial alleles.

However, adaptive evolution is not a process of constant improvement leading to perfection, nor does it produce clear trends in which all species evolve to have similar adaptations at similar rates.