Under Which of Randy Nesse and George Williams' Evolutionary Explanations

question 32

Multiple Choice

Under which of Randy Nesse and George Williams' evolutionary explanations for disease does the antagonistic pleiotropy hypothesis for senescence fall?

• A) Natural selection has not had time to catch up with environmental changes.
• B) Natural selection lacks foresight; we are stuck with historically contingent relics of the past.
• C) Natural selection favors reproductive success, even at the expense of vulnerability to disease.
• D) Some disease symptoms, though unpleasant, are actually beneficial.

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Definitions:

Reproductive Organs

Organs involved in the production of gametes (sperm and eggs) and in supporting the processes of fertilization, pregnancy, and childbirth.

Homeostasis

The ability of a living organism to maintain stable internal conditions despite changes in the external environment.

Circulatory System

The body's system responsible for the transport of blood, nutrients, gases, and wastes throughout the body, involving the heart and blood vessels.

Surface-Area-To-Volume Ratio

Ratio of a cell’s outside area to its internal volume; the relationship limits the maximum size of a cell.