I'm looking for a term or preferably one word that means "something which should not have evolved or occurred in nature but which has", I'm not sure such a term exists but maybe someone has heard it before?
2007-08-02 05:54:40 · 4 answers · asked by Munchies09 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Traits that are adaptive in one environment may be a very big disadvantage in another environment. A trait that is an evolutionary disadvantage is called maladaptive. However, a maladaptive trait is not something which should not have occurred. There is no such thing as traits that should or shouldn't occur. In evolution, there are three options -- a new phenotypic trait will either cause individuals to flourish, perish, or have no effect on their survival or reproductive success. Most organisms have at least a few traits that are less than ideal.
2007-08-02 10:04:20 · answer #1 · answered by formerly_bob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so since a "mistake" would imply evolution has a goal, design in mind or foresight when that isn't so.
Mutations can be advantageous or disadvantageous if that's what you mean.
A bio entity that shouldn't evolve in nature but has simply cannot, by definition, exist. I'm not sure that anyone has named that.
2007-08-02 13:28:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Could it be an anomaly or mutation?
2007-08-02 13:04:15 · answer #3 · answered by Spencer C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
missing links, maybe
backwards species or just plain
mutant.
2007-08-02 13:02:01 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋