Which of the following is responsible forevolution according to Neo-Darwinism : [CPMT 86]a)Mutationb)Natural selection c)Mutation and Naturald)Either (1) or (2)Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

Answer

Natural selection is the core creative agent in evolution, mutations, variations, are also factors leading to the development of new species. Organisms more suited to the environmental conditions will survive empowering the forces of competition. The organism with beneficial mutations, stronger genotype will be the fittest and will survive. After successive generations, all the stronger gene pool leads to an evolution of new species

Answer

Neo-Darwinism is a modified version of Darwin’s theory, that regards evolution as a change in gene frequencies due to mutation, natural selection considered as the most important, although not the only cause for such changes.

Answer

Explanation:

Introduction to Neo-Darwinism:
Neo-Darwinism is an extension of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. It incorporates the concept of genetic mutations and their role in driving evolutionary changes in populations over time. According to Neo-Darwinism, both mutation and natural selection play crucial roles in the process of evolution.

The Role of Mutation:
Mutation refers to a change in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome. These changes can occur spontaneously or due to external factors such as radiation or chemicals. Mutations can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral in their effects on an organism.

1. Beneficial Mutations: Occasionally, mutations can lead to new genetic variations that provide an advantage to an organism in its environment. For example, a mutation may result in an adaptation that allows an organism to survive better, reproduce more successfully, or occupy a new ecological niche.

2. Harmful Mutations: On the other hand, mutations can also have detrimental effects on an organism's fitness. Harmful mutations are more likely to be eliminated from the population through natural selection, as organisms with these mutations may be less likely to survive or reproduce.

3. Neutral Mutations: Some mutations have no discernible effect on an organism's fitness and are considered neutral. These mutations may accumulate in a population over time without being subject to strong selective pressure.

The Role of Natural Selection:
Natural selection is the process by which certain heritable traits become more or less common in a population over successive generations. It occurs due to the differential survival and reproduction of individuals with different traits.

1. Variation: Natural selection relies on the presence of genetic variation within a population. This variation can arise from mutation, recombination, or gene flow.

2. Selection Pressure: The environment exerts selective pressure on individuals with different traits. Some traits may confer a higher likelihood of survival and reproduction, while others may decrease an organism's fitness.

3. Reproductive Success: Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their genes to the next generation. Over time, these advantageous traits become more prevalent in the population, leading to evolutionary change.

The Combination of Mutation and Natural Selection:
Neo-Darwinism recognizes that both mutation and natural selection are essential for evolution to occur. Mutation provides the raw material for genetic variation, while natural selection acts upon this variation, favoring traits that enhance an organism's fitness in a given environment.

By combining the random occurrence of beneficial mutations with the selective pressure imposed by the environment, Neo-Darwinism explains how populations can adapt and evolve over time. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option C, which states that both mutation and natural selection are responsible for evolution according to Neo-Darwinism.

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