Which of the following is an example of an environmental constraint on evolution by natural selection?
A) The availabilities of different types of food are inconsistent from year to year on Daphne Major, so finches with the "perfect" bill size in one year may be at a disadvantage in another year.
B) Dolphin embryos grow hindlimb buds during development, even though they do not have or need hindlimbs as adults.
C) Female humans have nipples with mammary glands; males have nipples too but are unable to produce milk.
D) Certain proteins in humans have similar amino acid sequences to those found in yeast because we have been unable to evolve more sophisticated sequences.
E) Hox genes are found in both Drosophila and humans and are important in the development of body parts.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Environmental constraints, such as the availability of food or changes in weather patterns, can have a significant impact on the survival and reproduction of individuals in a population. In this case, the availability of different types of food on Daphne Major creates variability in the selection pressures faced by finches with different bill sizes. Thus, individuals with a "perfect" bill size in one year may be disadvantaged in another year. This variability in environmental conditions can limit the ability of natural selection to produce consistent changes in the traits of a population over time.

Which of the Following Is an Example of an Environmental