Question

A) Is natural selection progressive? Why or why not?

B) Explain how evolution can influence genotype-by-environment interactions. Provide an example to assist your explanation.

Answer 1

A) No, Natural selection is not progressive. As natural selection works on present environmental situations. So there are very minute chances that the natural selection will have a trait that will benefit an organism in upcoming future. Any trait which will be developed it will be in response to present events. So natural selection is not progressive as it not leads to the a predefined goal.

B) A basic example to support this event is Giraffe's neck. Before giraffes adapted to having very long necks, this was extremely prevalent because the taller giraffes could reach higher food supply when the food supply grown lower was scarce, whilst the shorter necked giraffes could not reach the food and thus would not survive. Shorter giraffes suffered with less survival and less reproduction and the taller giraffes with more survival and more reproduction.