Quote:
Originally posted by Uncle Gus
What I had drilled into me hard is that evolution does not have a purpose. It doesn't happen because of something, it is a random process. Adaptation is not random.
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Seems to me that your understanding is a little wonky.
Mutations are random, but the natural selection is quite specific. Over time this selection will change a species to something more suited to its environment. That is evolution. It is not random but well directed. Evolution is about the selection more than about the mutation.
Also a physical adaptation as you define it can
never be passed to offspring. So it's largely irrelevant to the discussion. It may indicate what a useful mutation could be, but doesn't change anything at the genetic level. Adaptations of behaviour are a different kettle of fish however.