The statement "Mutation occurs randomly, but natural selection does not; it sorts out the winners and the losers" is true.
Here's a brief breakdown:
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Evolution is a random process: This is an oversimplification. While some aspects of evolution, like mutation, are random, the overall process of evolution includes both random and non-random elements. Natural selection acts on the variation created by random mutations in a non-random manner based on the suitability of traits in a given environment.
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Natural selection is a random process: This statement is not true. Natural selection is a non-random process; it systematically favors certain traits over others, based on their fitness in a given environment.
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Mutation occurs randomly, but natural selection does not; it sorts out the winners and the losers: This is the accurate statement. Mutations arise randomly, introducing genetic variation, and then natural selection operates on that variation in a non-random way, favoring advantageous traits for survival and reproduction.
So, the correct perspective is that while mutations are random, natural selection is a directed process that promotes the survival of certain traits over others based on environmental pressures.
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