Question

The museum's evolution exhibits demonstrate how natural selection leads to new species and how genetic processes underlie evolutionary change. You'll analyze adaptive radiation, speciation mechanisms, and the molecular basis of evolution in both past and present examples.
Question 7 (11.111111111 points)

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A visitor asks whether evolution is still happening today or only occurred in the past. The museum educator explains that evolution is an ongoing process observable in contemporary organisms. What evidence demonstrates that evolution continues in modern times?
Question 7 options:

Observable evolutionary changes occur in response to contemporary environmental challenges like climate change and pollution

Evolution only happened millions of years ago and cannot be observed in living organisms

Modern evolution only happens in laboratory experiments, never in natural environments

Evolution completely stopped when humans appeared and no longer occurs in any organisms

Answer 1

Correct answer:
Observable evolutionary changes occur in response to contemporary environmental challenges like climate change and pollution.

Brief explanation/examples: antibiotic- and pesticide-resistant microbes/insects, rapid beak-size shifts in Darwin’s finches after droughts, industrial melanism in peppered moths, fish and invertebrates evolving tolerance to pollutants, and urban adaptations (e.g., changes in bird songs or plant traits). These demonstrate evolution occurring today in nature.