Natural selection does not give organisms traits based on their desires or needs; rather, it acts on existing variations in a population. Traits that confer a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to be passed on to future generations, but these traits arise randomly through mutations, not as a response to the organisms' needs.
A major misconception about natural selection is that this mechanism gives organisms what they want or need so they can adapt to an environment explain why this is not correct
Answer in just a couple sentences
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More simple vocabulary kind of like a 6th grader
A common mistake is thinking that natural selection helps organisms get what they want or need. Instead, it works by favoring traits that already exist in a population. Organisms with traits that help them survive are more likely to have babies, but those traits don’t appear because the organisms want them; they happen randomly.
Less sentences more straight to the point
Natural selection doesn’t give organisms what they want or need; it picks traits that already exist. Traits that help survival often get passed on, but they appear randomly, not because the organism needs them.
Consider a major environmental change. If there are not organisms in a population that traits that allow them to still continue to survive to reproduce, what would likely happen to that population
Answer the exact same way as the last one
Answer the exact same way as the last one
If a major environmental change happens and no organisms in a population have traits that help them survive, that population is likely to go extinct. Without the ability to adapt, they won’t be able to reproduce.