ST Lectures: Misconceptions:

Question 1

What is a common misconception in evolutionary biology?

Answer 1

All living things have such intricate and complex features that they couldn’t function if they were any less sophisticated. Evolution therefore cannot be used to explain the existence of these features

Question 2

What is wrong with the misconception?

Answer 2

• It overlooks how evolution can actually work - through gradual changes by combining functional traits through adaptation and natural selection to create something new that also functions
• evolution builds complexity incrementally over long periods of time