There are those who claim that the theory of evolution cannot be true because the apes, which are supposed to be closely related to humans, do not likewise share the same large brains, capacity for complicated speech, and tool-making capability. They reason that if these features are generally beneficial, then the apes should have evolved them as well. Which of these provides the best argument against this misconception?
A) Advantageous alleles do not arise on demand.
B) A population's evolution is limited by historical constraints.
C) Adaptations are often compromises.
D) Evolution can be influenced by environmental change.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Advantageous alleles do not arise on demand.The theory of evolution does not state that all advantageous alleles will arise in a population. It only states that those alleles that are present in a population and that provide a selective advantage will be more likely to be passed on to future generations. In the case of apes, it is possible that the alleles that would have allowed them to evolve larger brains, more complex speech, and tool-making capabilities simply did not arise in their population.

There Are Those Who Claim That the Theory of Evolution