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Evolution and natural selection is a long process covering many hundreds, thousands, even millions of generations. It is based upon random mutations that occur in the offspring of organisms. In other words, almost by definition, the evolutionary process cannot take place in an individual insofar as the individual represents only one generation. If the individual has experienced some sort of random mutation that affords it some sort of advantage over its un-mutated peers in its environment, then perhaps it will be more likely to procreate and pass on its genes to its offspring who, in turn, will benefit from the advantages the mutation has created and procreate more successfully. This process can lead to an overall improvement of the species or an entirely new species altogether.

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17y ago
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11y ago

Evolution is a phenomenon best expressed in terms of either changes between generations or changes in allele frequencies from one generation to the next. It is individual variants that are subject to natural selection, but evolution is most easily measured in terms of allele frequencies in the population gene pool. My answer would therefore be: Both.

Although genetic information DOES change through the course of an individual's life (which is why even the DNA of identical twins grows less and less alike as they age), in general one's genotype is considered predominantly fixed at conception. In that respect, individuals do not evolve, but populations do. While individuals are subject to natural selection, they are not subject to inheritable germ line mutations. That would only happen to their offspring.


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Q: Why can a population evolve but an individual can not?
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Pokemon diamond which stones work on different Pokemon?

Fire Stone Causes Vulpix to evolve into Ninetales. Causes Growlithe to evolve into Arcanine. Causes Eevee to evolve into Flareon. Causes Pansear to evolve into Simisear. Water Stone Causes Poliwhirl to evolve into Poliwrath. Causes Shellder to evolve into Cloyster. Causes Staryu to evolve into Starmie. Causes Eevee to evolve into Vaporeon. Causes Lombre to evolve into Ludicolo. Causes Panpour to evolve into Simipour. Thunder Stone, Causes Pikachu to evolve into Raichu. Causes Eevee to evolve into Jolteon. Causes Eelektrik to evolve into Eelektross. Leaf Stone Causes Gloom to evolve into Vileplume. Causes Weepinbell to evolve into Victreebel. Causes Exeggcute to evolve into Exeggutor. Causes Nuzleaf to evolve into Shiftry. Causes Pansage to evolve into Simisage. Moon Stone Causes Nidorina to evolve into Nidoqueen. Causes Nidorino to evolve into Nidoking. Causes Clefairy to evolve into Clefable. Causes Jigglypuff to evolve into Wigglytuff. Causes Skitty to evolve into Delcatty. Causes Munna to evolve into Musharna. Sun Stone Causes Gloom to evolve into Bellossom. Causes Sunkern to evolve into Sunflora. Causes Cottonee to evolve into Whimsicott. Causes Petilil to evolve into Lilligant. Shiny Stone Causes Togetic to evolve into Togekiss. Causes Roselia to evolve into Roserade. Causes Minccino to evolve into Cinccino. Dusk Stone Causes Murkrow to evolve into Honchkrow. Causes Misdreavus to evolve into Mismagius. Causes Lampent to evolve into Chandelure. Dawn Stone Causes male Kirlia to evolve into Gallade. Causes female Snorunt to evolve into Froslass. Ever Stone If held, prevents a Pokémon from evolving.


Can you evolve Aerodactyl?

No. You cannot evolve it even if it is level 100.


When does minum evolve?

it doesnt evolve


Does Ditto evolve into Ditti and if it does how do you evolve it?

ditto cant evolve but he can breed with any pokemon!


When does mantine evolve?

It Doesn't Evolve That's The Last Evolve Formation There Is Hope I Helped ^_^

Related questions

Do individual or population evolve?

a population adapts over time. an individual cannot adapt during its lifetime. it happens over many generations.


Does an individual a population or a species evolve?

A species evolves over time through the process of natural selection acting on individuals within a population. Individuals themselves do not evolve, as evolution refers to changes in the genetic composition of a population over generations.


Why is population the smallest unit of organism that can evolve?

Evolution is defined as a change in allele frequencies over time. Since individuals have only the set of alleles that they're born with, an individual cannot evolve. This leaves the population as the smallest unit that can evolve.


Explain why it is incorrect to say that individual organisms evolve?

Individual organisms do not evolve because evolution is a process that occurs in populations over successive generations. Evolution is driven by changes in the genetic makeup of a population, not changes in an individual's characteristics during its lifetime. Changes in individuals due to factors like adaptation or natural selection do not contribute to the overall evolutionary process.


Why can't an individual in a population evolve?

An individual cannot evolve because evolution is a population-level process that occurs over generations through changes in allele frequencies. Evolution involves traits passed down from one generation to the next, not changes within an individual's lifetime.


The smallest biological until that can evolve over time is?

The smallest biological unit that can evolve over time is an individual organism, typically a unicellular organism like bacteria or archaea. These organisms can undergo genetic mutations and natural selection, leading to the evolution of their populations over generations.


Which biological unit evolves over time?

Populations evolve over time due to genetic variation, natural selection, and other mechanisms that drive changes in the gene pool of a population. Individual organisms do not evolve, but rather the population as a whole exhibits changes in its genetic makeup over generations.


Why did Darwin state that you could never watch natural selection in action?

The smallest unit that can evolve is the population, not the individual. In other words, you can't evolve, but over generations, the population can be subject to natural selection and different traits can be selected. In addition, the evolution of a population will take generations of fluctuating gene frequencies, something you can't just watch in action. Of course, the speed of evolution is entirely dependent on the environment; some populations will evolve quicker than others.


How does a population evolve?

Get a pokemon to a certain level


What is the smallest biological unit that can evolve over time?

The smallest biological unit that can evolve over time is a population. Evolution is the change in the heritable characteristics of a population over generations. Individuals do not evolve, but rather the frequency of traits within a population changes over time.


Which statement is more accurate to scientist the evolution of a single individual organism or the evolution of a whole species?

The evolution of a whole species is more accurate as it considers genetic variations and adaptations across multiple individuals within a population over time. Evolution of a single individual organism does not accurately represent the gradual changes in a population that drive species evolution.


What is the number of individual in a population in the population?

limiting factor