Exploring Our World

“Adaptation, in evolutionary terms, is the process that species go through in order to become accustomed to an environment. Over many generations, through the process of natural selection, organisms’ physical and behavioral features adapt to function better in the face of environmental challenges. Adaptations are slow and incremental, and the result of successful adaptation is always beneficial to an organism.”

https://sciencing.com/examples-evolutionary-adaptation-6131133.html 

Berkeley Education science website statements:

"Natural selection involves genetic variation and selection among variants present in a population. ...Genetic variation is generated by random mutation - a process that is unaffected by what organisms in the population want or what they are 'trying' to do. Either an individual has genes that are good enough to survive and reproduce, or it does not, but it can’t get the right genes by 'trying.' " (Emphasis mine.)

“Natural selection has no intentions or senses; it cannot sense what a species or an individual "needs." Natural selection acts on the genetic variation in a population, and this genetic variation is generated by random mutation - a process that is unaffected by what organisms in the population need.” (Emphasis mine.) https://evolution.berkeley.edu/misconceps/IEneeds.shtml

Look at this statement in a Parasitology textbook:

“Natural selection can act only on those biologic properties that already exist; it cannot create properties in order to meet adaptational needs.” Parasitology, 6th ed. Lea & Febiger, p. 516. (Emphasis mine.)

To sum this up:

Natural selection is unaffected by what an organism wants or needs; and cannot create properties in order to meet adaptational needs. An organism also cannot get what they need by trying.

But this is where it gets confusing. It seems like they turn around and say what sounds like just the opposite. Let’s see if you can use or critical thinking skills and recognize what would seem to be a contradiction.

Here are 3 examples of adaptations that are given on the Berkeley Education website:

1. The katydid of Costa Rica.

“Mimicry of leaves by insects is an adaptation for evading predators. This example is a katydid from Costa Rica.”  “While some species can resemble bark, rock or lichen, those that resemble leaves are by far the most common.”  (They have the amazing ability to camouflage themselves.)

https://www.bangscience.org/2014/04/what-katydid/

Critical Thinking Questions:

In your mind, does that involve a need the katydid had? Does it almost sound as though trying was involved?

2. The echolocation mechanism in bats.

"Echolocation in bats is an adaptation for catching insects."

Echolocation is a technique used by bats, dolphins and other animals to determine the location of objects using reflected sound. This allows the animals to move around in pitch darkness, so they can navigate, hunt, identify friends and enemies, and avoid obstacles.

Critical Thinking Questions:

In your mind, does that involve a need the bats had? Does it almost sound as though trying was involved? This ability is also shared by whales, dolphins, some birds, and some shrews.

3. The creosote bush

"The creosote bush is a desert-dwelling plant that produces toxins that prevent other plants from growing nearby, thus reducing competition for nutrients and water."

Critical Thinking Questions:

In your mind, does that involve a need the creosote bush had? Does it almost sound as though trying was involved?

Here are 6 other examples of adaptations that are given in science textbooks and on science websites:

4. Snakes

“Another example given for adaptation, it is theorized that before snakes slithered, they had limbs similar to those of lizards (4 of them). To better adapt to their environment of small holes in the ground, they lost their legs. This allowed them to fit into a tighter space, in which they could hide from predators.”

Critical Thinking Questions:

In your mind, does that involve a need that snakes had? Does it almost sound as though trying was involved? 

5. The mouse

It is stated that mice have very large ears because they are nocturnal creatures, and since they do not have night-vision they have adapted incredible hearing capabilities.

Critical Thinking Skills:

In your mind, does that involve a need that mice had? Does it almost sound as though trying was involved?

6. Giraffes

"The evolution of the giraffe's long neck occurred so that the animal could reach leaves in taller trees. But it's even more complex than that, because the more adaptive aspect of the neck evolution occurred as a result of the giraffe's long legs. Since giraffes do not bend their knees to drink from a pool of water, they require a long neck that can reach all the way down to the water."

Critical Thinking Questions:

In your mind, does that involve a need that giraffes had? Does it almost sound as though trying was involved?

Here are some facts about giraffes you may not have been aware of:

7. Polar Bears Fur

Here is another example given for adaptation: "Polar bears evolved white fur because it better conceals them in the arctic."

Critical Thinking Questions:

In your mind, does that involve a need the polar bears had? Does it almost sound as though trying was involved?

8. Lion Eyes

“Why are the eyes of a lion set in front of the head rather than on the sides? Answer: Eyes in front of the head allow for depth perception and ability to judge distances when hunting.”

9. Bacteria

Another example of adaptation: Bacteria evolving resistance to antibiotics.

Critical Thinking Question:

In your mind, does that involve a need the bacteria had?

Critical Thinking:

Mimicry in Katydids is an adaptation to evade predators –

Echolocation is an adaptation in bats to catch insects –

Producing toxins by a creosote bush is an adaptation to keep other plants from growing nearby –

Snakes lost their legs as an adaptation to fit in small holes so they could hide from predators –

Large ears and incredible hearing capabilities in mice is an adaptation so they could hear better at night –

Giraffes grew long legs and long necks as an adaptation to better reach leaves and water –

White fur on polar bears is an adaptation to better conceal themselves in the snow -

Eyes on the front of lion heads is an adaptation that helps them in hunting prey –

Bacteria being resistant to antibiotics is an adaptation to better help them survive.

Two Worldview Interpretations:

Undirected Process Formation

An animal or plant species becomes better fitted to its environment as the result of natural selection's acting upon heritable variation.

Directed Purpose Formation:

Life forms are fitted to their environment because they were brought into this world with those traits and functions already built into them, for a purpose.