Question

Would evolution stop if there were no natural selection?

Answer 1

i believe it would stop due to the undeniable fact that natural selection is the ultimate key to evolution. it is the reason why series of living subjects evolved to birth homosapiens (us) as the organisms who dominate in the animal kingdom..so if not for natural selectionm, different forms of life would be in inexistence. i hope i helped.

Answer 2

mutations would still arise and thus evolution would continue. it would, however, have no selection pressure and thus one trait would not be favored over another. likely, evolution would still exist, but in a very different and much more random form.

Answer 3

Evolution is loosely defined as the process by which organisms become different from their ancestors.

The process of evolution is as follows:

1. Overpopulation: there are too many offspring that can be provided for by the environment. Within these offsprings are different mutations that may act as a factor in natural selection.

2. Natural selection: the population of organisms are put through a "selective pressure". Individuals with favourable characteristics (which arise through mutation) are more likely to survive than those without, and therefore these individuals are more likely to reproduce and pass down their advantage to their offspring.

If you were to cut out natural selection (e.g. no selective pressures) then evolution would continue, but it would be much more based on chance and randomness than the current model. There would be no generalised specific changes in population's genetic expression as it genes would play no role in the survival of the organism.

Answer 4

Generally speaking, while mutations would still occur, the lack of favored traits would leave no reason for creatures to evolve and thus, evolution would most likely be at a standstill, or at the very least, a much slower process than it is now (which is in fact, very slow).