Lecture 8: Proximate Mechanisms 1

Question 1

Define ‘symmorphosis’.

Answer 1

The principle and limitations of economic design.

Question 2

Why do organisms not perform optimally?

Answer 2

1. Organisms are not ‘designed’; natural selection is not engineering.
2. Biological materials have limitations.
3. Energetic is not necessarily what selection maximises.
4. Environments often too rapidly.
5. Selection cannot anticipate.
6. Genetic drift operates in all populations.
7. Behaviours evolve too rapidly.
8. Sexual selection counters natural selection.