Evolution is deterministic, not random, biologists conclude from multi-species study

A multi-national team of biologists has concluded that developmental evolution is deterministic and orderly, rather than random, based on a study of different species of roundworms. The findings are reported in the latest issue of the journal Current Biology.

 

http://www.physorg.com/news114700358.html

 

So random changes with natural selection is not reality, but more like a smart change.

Biologists never said evolution was random. We aren't evolving towards an end goal, however.

Their results showed an even greater number of evolutionary changes in vulva development than the researchers had expected. In addition, they found that evolutionary changes among these species were unidirectional in nearly all instances. For example, they concluded that the number of cell divisions needed in vulva development declined over time—instead of randomly increasing and decreasing. In addition, the team noted that the number of rings used to form the vulva consistently declined during the evolutionary process.

 

That is no surprise to anyone. Why would earthworms want to have a less efficient developmental process? Evolution will always be toward greater efficiency, even though the parameters for efficiency (ie, environment) may change. Anything that makes you have more surviving offspring will be selected for, of course that is directional.

That could be an adaptation mechanism that they had neglected.

 

I wonder if I still have any tail DNA I might be able to use on my offspring. I was thinking something squirrely.