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Being in a population is what causes interactions between an organism and another. So it's the interspecific (between different species) and intraspecific (between the same species) interactions that cause evolutionary pressure. The main types of interactions are competition, mutualism, and parasitism. If the organism were just in a world by itself, it would have absolutely no need to evolve. That's because it would be able to get all the food and resources it needs and wants. So again, it's the interaction between organisms that really counts.

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Q: Why does evolution only occurs in a population of organisms?
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Where did evolution occur?

The only known instance of evolution occurring is here, on Earth. Logic dictates, however, that evolution occurs wherever there is life.


Does somatic mutation contribute to evolution?

No. Only germ line mutation can be passed on. Somatic mutations die with the organism that processes them. The change in allele frequency over time in a population of organisms, evolution, can not take place if the alleles can not get onto the population through the organism having progeny; the result of germ lines.


What does evolution mean in science?

Evolution is the gradual change of a population in response to changes in the environment. Evolution does not occur in individuals, it can only occur when a mutation is added to a population or a certain gene is selected for. Evolution occurs because the fittest individuals who pass their genes on the most are the ones best suited for the environment. Those that don't survive don't pass on their traits. It is important to note that fitness described in survival of the fittest pertains to reproductive fitness, not physical fitness.


What is the difference between a community of organisms and a population of organisms?

A population consists of boitic and abiotic factors.A community consists of abiotic factors only.


What do the term evolution and evolve mean in the field of biology?

Evolution is a series of hereditary changes in organisms; often more broadly construed as changes in types of entities over time, as the "evolution of printing techniques" or the "evolution of galaxies after the Big Bang." It would be illegitimate to extend the usage to entities that don't in some sense record the changes so that they persist, as in DNA, or in the memories of teachers of printing techniques, or in the density of clumps of matter in the early Universe. So one wouldn't say that hemlines evolve, even though they change.Two things evolution is not:1- It is not natural selection, the process whereby random mutations in an organism's DNA tend to be retained if they enhance its prospects of reproducing. This is the mechanismof evolution accepted by modern biologists.2- It is not the movement of a family of organisms toward some perfect form. This is probably the biggest misconception about evolution. Many people think we are evolving toward ever smarter people. This mistake is due, one might speculate, to the fact that evolution has produced us, the smartest animal around. The temptation is strong to believe that that makes us better than other animals, from which it is natural, but fallacious, to conclude that evolution must have been aimed at producing ever better animals, and that it will continue to push our descendants toward what we consider perfection.

Related questions

Define evolution at the population level?

That is the only level where evolution happens.Evolution is the change in allele frequencies over time in a population of organisms.


What is meant by the statement Populations evolve individuals don't?

This statement refers to the fact that evolution occurs at the level of populations over generations, with changes in allele frequencies leading to evolution. It emphasizes that individual organisms do not evolve within their lifetimes, as they do not change genetically, but rather it is the population as a whole that evolves.


Compare and contrast natural selection and evolution?

Natural selection is the most powerful driver of evolution and it is the only mechanism of evolution ( genetic drift and gene flow are two other mechanisms ) that leads to adaptive change. Natural selection is the nonrandom survival and reproductive success of of randomly varying organisms. Evolution is the change in allele frequency over time in a population of organisms.


Is it true that acquired characteristics lead to evolution?

Evolution is the change in allele frequency over time in a population of organisms. Alleles are different molecular forms of the same gene and when their frequency changes in a population it indicates " hard " inheritance has taken place; the only type of inheritance that leads to evolution. Building bigger muscles during you lifetime can not pass the bigger muscles on to your progeny, thus mo evolution in any population.


Where did evolution occur?

The only known instance of evolution occurring is here, on Earth. Logic dictates, however, that evolution occurs wherever there is life.


Does somatic mutation contribute to evolution?

No. Only germ line mutation can be passed on. Somatic mutations die with the organism that processes them. The change in allele frequency over time in a population of organisms, evolution, can not take place if the alleles can not get onto the population through the organism having progeny; the result of germ lines.


WHAT Processes occurs only in organisms that reproduce sexually?

The process of meiosis.


What process occurs in eukaryotic organisms that only reproduce asexually?

mitosismeiosis


What is essnetial to evolution?

Genetic and morphological variation. Without variation in organisms there would only be the shifts of genetic drift and gene flow in organisms. When organusms are varied then one can be selected from the other by the environment and the organisms ability to reproduce against that environment. Then there is evolution.


What are the organs involved in respiring?

respiration occurs in all organisms,(except bacteria) but photosynthesis only occurs in plants.


Do any qualified scientists support evolution?

The vast majority of scientists support evolution. There is no longer any debate in the scientific community about whether evolution occurs, only the mechanisms in which evolution acts upon is debated.


What does evolution mean in science?

Evolution is the gradual change of a population in response to changes in the environment. Evolution does not occur in individuals, it can only occur when a mutation is added to a population or a certain gene is selected for. Evolution occurs because the fittest individuals who pass their genes on the most are the ones best suited for the environment. Those that don't survive don't pass on their traits. It is important to note that fitness described in survival of the fittest pertains to reproductive fitness, not physical fitness.