It is incorrect to say that an individual has evolved. Explain why am propose a more accurate statement. Help I don't know how to approach this question?
1 Answer
The classic definition of Neo Darwinian evolution is that only a population evolves or changes into a new type of population or species.
Explanation:
An individual may acquire a favorable variation of the existing DNA possibilities. This favorable variation will normally be absorbed into the population gene pool and create no overall change in the species or population.
An individual may acquire a favorable mutation a change in the existing DNA. This mutation if favorable in the environment must be passed on to offspring, to create a change int the species or population.
The squirrels are the North Side of the Grand Canyon have thicker fur and are larger than the squirrels on the South Side of the Grand Canyon. Today they are regarded as two separate species. If one individual from the North Side of the Grand Canyon was introduced to the population on the South Side. The individual would likely be able to interbreed with the population on the south side. This would not create an evolutionary change as the genes for thicker fur would be a small part of the entire gene pool. ion
Individuals in Northern Europe ( Likely occurring in more than one individual) acquired a mutation that resulted in the loss of information for making dark skin pigments. This created white skin that was able to absorb the light energy for making vitamin D. The individuals with this helpful mutation ( Helpful in the northern hemisphere where there were long winters and less light) passed on the mutation creating a new subspecies, with white skin and light eye color.
An individual might acquire a favorable gene set or mutation but this will not result in an evolutionary change in the overall population. Evolution only occurs when the overall population changes.
