Chick with genetic defect

[u/Significant_Snow_718]

[u/StonedEnby]

Not really. A genetic defect is a precursor to evolution. If the trait doesn’t benefit the animal and isn’t passed on with reproduction there is no evolutionary process, just a dead mutant.

[u/SousVideDiaper → u/StonedEnby]

not really

You just gave context for what they said, tho

[u/Caspica → u/SousVideDiaper]

I think it's more that they're trying to point out the difference between evolution and genetic mutations. Evolution is what occurs on a macroscopic level over a long period of time to organisms. Genetic mutations are what happens on the microscopic level that could play part in the evolution of an organism. That doesn't mean that a genetic mutation implies that the animal has evolved. 

[u/KJEveryday → u/Caspica]

Regarding you saying *could *, evolution doesn’t happen without genetic mutations though.

[u/AlternateSatan → u/KJEveryday]

And painting a portrait doesn't happen unless you hold a paint brush, that doesn't mean that just holding a paint brush with paint on it is the same as painting the Mona Lisa, you're missing a lot of steps still.

[u/Kevl17 → u/KJEveryday]

But not all mutations cause a species to evolve. That's what they were saying.

So any given mutation could play a part in evolution, but many won't.

[u/Atomik141 → u/Kevl17]

In fact, the vast majority of mutations do not contribute to evolution

[u/Reagalan → u/Atomik141]

yeah like what happens if favorable mutations are all recessive?

like uh....boids get stuck on termite island; long beaks are favored, but this species always has short beaks cause their genes are dominant

do mutations for long beaks just get buried despite an advantage?