All the following statements concerning the theory of evolution by natural selection are true EXCEPT:
The bodies of organisms in a population change by use and disuse, and the changes are inherited by the next generation.
Why is the above the correct answer?
The theory of evolution by natural selection is the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioural traits. Basically changes in organisms are selected or not selected (use/disuse) and the result are inherited traits (changes inherited by the next generation).
Do you know why all of us has an appendix? I don't either.
It's the remnant of an organ that was once of use to us but no longer is useful. Our bodies have changed because of environmental changes.
https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/picture-of-the-appendix
The above statement is incorrect because it describes the discredited Lamarckian theory of evolution, rather than the modern theory of evolution by natural selection proposed by Charles Darwin. The concept of "use and disuse" suggests that organisms can change their traits during their lifetime based on the use or disuse of body parts, and these acquired traits can then be passed on to their offspring. However, this idea has been rejected by scientific evidence. In contrast, Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection states that variation exists in populations, individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, and over time, these traits become more common in the population. The passing of acquired traits through use and disuse is not supported by the theory of evolution by natural selection.
The correct answer is "The bodies of organisms in a population change by use and disuse, and the changes are inherited by the next generation" because this statement is not aligned with the theory of evolution by natural selection. This statement represents Lamarck's theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, which was discredited by Darwin's theory of natural selection.
To understand why this statement is incorrect, let's briefly explain the theory of evolution by natural selection. According to this theory, individuals within a population vary in their traits due to genetic variation. Some of these variations are favorable in a given environment, providing individuals with a higher chance of survival and reproduction. These favorable traits are then more likely to be passed on to the next generation, while less advantageous traits are less likely to be passed on.
In contrast, the statement suggests that the changes in an organism's body due to use and disuse of certain characteristics (e.g., a giraffe's neck getting longer from stretching) are somehow inherited by the next generation. This idea is known as the inheritance of acquired traits. However, this mechanism does not align with the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Darwin's theory of natural selection is based on the concept of genetic variation already existing within a population. It does not involve individuals altering their own traits through use or disuse during their lifetime. In other words, Darwin proposed that evolution occurs through the passing on of favorable genetic variations, not through the direct alteration of an individual's traits during its lifetime.
Hence, the statement "The bodies of organisms in a population change by use and disuse, and the changes are inherited by the next generation" is not true according to the theory of evolution by natural selection.